"When I hear of someone doing a good deed, I am reminded of my own potential to do the same."

Larissa Kaye Batten (LLbeara@aol.com) writes "Soul Food," a weekly column for SpiritSite.com.  

Larissa is a prolific writer whose work has been featured in several publications.

The woman chucked up her lunch all over 42nd Street, New York City.

I tried to hurry past her, but quickly discovered that my feet had other intentions. I did a u-turn and returned to her.

"Are you okay?" I said. "Do you need help?"

If you have ever lived in New York City, you know the self-preservation law regarding strangers. Never talk to strangers, no matter how much they need your help.

In New York City, statistics are always against you. Helping a stranger can be life-threatening.

Tough luck. "Do you need help?"

"I think I'll be okay," the woman told me, holding her chest.

She was definitely piqued, most likely on her way to vomiting again. "I just got a flu shot."

For all I know, she could have been doing drugs. She needed help, though, and I chose to follow my intuition.

"Why don't I stay with you for a few minutes. Maybe the company will help," I said.

She was probably grateful for my concern, but her face was drawn down in her obvious discomfort.

"That's alright, I'm okay," she assured me.

"I'll just stay a few minutes anyway," I said.

We talked for a few minutes, and I did not leave until she looked a little better.

She didn't want me to get her anything. She didn't want me to take her anywhere. But who wants to be sick and alone on 42nd street, New York City?

The woman thanked me before we parted ways. My feet then took me to wherever I would go next. I do not remember. I do not remember anything about that day other than the few minutes I stopped to help a stranger.

I am not sure I ever told anyone about those few minutes. See, I live in a society that so often preaches that good deeds are best kept secret.

"Stay humble," people say. "If you do a good deed, keep it to yourself."

"God wants you to reach out to others and not tell anyone," they say. "It says it somewhere in the Bible."

In my attempt to be a good, morally upright citizen, I heeded this concept for as long as I could.

Then I quit. I just plain old quit.

"Who are you kidding?" I would like to say to those who tell me to keep my charity to myself. "Why would God want anyone to refrain from talking about his good works?"

For me, the only benefit to keeping my lips sealed about a good deed is that I sit and revel in my wonderful ways.

Humble? I don't think so.

On the other hand, the benefits of sharing my service with others are gifts in and of themselves.

Number one, service is a gift. When I stopped to help the woman, I helped myself. I reminded myself of God. I remembered I am one with my fellows. I felt fulfilled from giving back. I felt Spirit working through me. I experienced Divine Love. I was a part of a whole picture, a small piece of the whole world. I was not alone. I had a fellow to help. I had a new friend. God was with me. The woman and I were one. We were part of God's plan for the day. Hooray. A joy to share with my friends. A joy to sing unto the world. I
believe in sharing my gifts.

Second, I am always, always inspired by the service of others. When I hear of someone doing a good deed, I am reminded of my own potential to do the same. I do not particularly receive a lot of incentive from reading books that preach to me. Without a doubt, I receive the greatest lessons from the achievements of my fellows. I hope, then, that the joy I receive in being of service might inspire another to do the same.

Finally, I want to thank God for the gifts he gives me. I don't know how much I helped the woman on 42nd Street. I don't even know if she remembers me. But helping a stranger brought sunlight into my day. Helping a stranger brought me back to spirit. I became centered again. I rediscovered my purpose. I felt worthy of being human. I had a gift to give, and a gift to receive. My thank you to God is to carry his message. I do not carry any message at all when I keep a secret. Why not sing my gift unto the world?

As for humility, I feel utterly humbled by sharing this gift. Receiving a gift from God, for me, is priceless. I am humbled by God's works. I am humbled by his lessons. Perhaps I met the woman that day to learn a lesson. Maybe I met her to help carry a message.

Let us not be ashamed by the good works we do. Let us thank God for them and remember to pass them forward.

I do not have any secrets today. I feel only the goodness of God and the desire to sing of it unto the world.

Bless the woman who stopped for me that day. She continues to remind me of God's riches.  I am a wealthy woman, and I do not want to hoard these gifts to myself.

Instead, I will sing them unto the world!

Thank you God.

back to "Soul Food" index ->