More Love!

Photo found here: http://somalianarab.blogspot.com/2010_06_01_archive.html

Yesterday while I was just about to open my car door and leave the co-op here in Santa Monica, a homeless man tried to hand me something. He didn’t actually look at me, he just lifted his hand for me to retrieve a small cardboard sign with string attached. As I walked closer, I saw the blue colored words on the front: “More Love!” “Oh yay!” I thought and immediately felt more peaceful and happy as I received this gift. I asked this peaceful man what I owed him and he said, “Nothing, just be compassion.” I smiled…. and handed him a few dollars anyway.

We got to talking and as I stood there, I felt this gravitational pull to sit down next to him, but I resisted… We kept talking about homelessness and love and finally my limbs almost gave out on me (not for any other reason than I felt a pull just to be near him), and I sucked up my pride and sat on the sidewalk with a homeless man for awhile simply talking. I mean this guy was so intelligent and so strong and even more wise. I told him my goals of a global family and how I feel misunderstood at times and he said, “Way back when, flying sounded crazy and abolishing slavery sounded crazy too… but they happened, didn’t they?” “YES!” was my response.

I honestly loved talking to him. He was a fabulous listener… he didn’t talk at me with an oppressive barrage of opinions or judgment… he just allowed me to be me and I in return allowed him to be him. As we sat chatting away, someone else walked out of the store and said in a vibrant voice, “EXCUSE ME BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE! (as he reached out to bump fists with my new friend David) My man, it’s all about the compassion! I am just so full of LOVE! COMPASSION FILLS THE WORLD!” I smiled and felt overwhelmed by gratitude to be a part of this POWERFUL exchange. I left smiling and didn’t feel so overwhelmed by my to do list or the things that need to happen or how I will make them happen. I simply felt peace and joy and a renewed sense that everything is fine just as it is. I felt even more open and able to ALLOW life to fill me with exactly what I need exactly when I need it.

From what I understand, David (the homeless sign maker) has made 4,000 of these signs and travels around handing them out. Pretty cool, huh?

On the back of the sign it says, “True LOVE is found in a REBELLION of peace led by humanity.

No Poverty! No War!

END ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION NOW!

BE COMPASSION

LIVE SIMPLE- In harmony with the EARTH and ALL human kind. Make the search for truth your sacrament; Make COMPASSION your doctrine; and SERVICE TO ALL your true prayer for what you SEEK will be found only in what you GIVE. BE FULL! BE WISE! BE PACIFIST!! BE STRONG!!”

This small act made my day and from what I can tell, it makes the day of many others as well.