Signs

Some of us spend our lives trying to help others, but every once in awhile even we realize that others too care for our needs in little and not so little ways.

Evidence of this truth arrived today, unexpectedly of course, by means of a person who knocked at the door. In his hands he was bearing a gift, a little token of gratitude for prayers and acts of charity bestowed over the past months toward him and his family. As it turns out, enclosed was a little calendar of reflections 'to help you on your way'.

These sayings are indeed meant to help us, all of us, on our way. Every day it helps to realize the little ways that God calls us to love one another ... so ... here's the first installment:

Friday, January 1
God gave you two hands, one to help yourself, one to help others.

We can often get caught up either in our concern with helping ourselves (which at its worst can lead to narcicism and at best is aimed at convincing others of our personal behavioural assets), or with helping others (based out of love or out of a thirst to be noticed). In truth, the secret of this particular phrase is to realize that balance is the most important: being concerned for others but also keeping an eye out for ourselves, so that we won't burn out and not be able to help anyone.