Spontaneous Good

Good examples inspire others and make a big difference for all of us

Photo by Tim Marshall on Unsplash

It is common today to hear about indifference, selfishness, greed and misery.

However, if there are those who only think of themselves ignoring the well-being of others, more and more there are movements of solidarity happening around us.

It was a spontaneous initiative that saved the lives of nine people on a beach in Florida.

Roberta was in the company of her mother, husband, children and nephews. After diving in the sea, she was surprised to find her family members very far from the shore. The children cried and everyone shouted that they were being pulled away by the current.

Desperate, thinking of saving them, she entered the water again. A bather noticed and soon realized that people were drowning. Immediately, she picked up a bodyboard she found on the sand and swam towards the family. Meanwhile, her husband also entered the water, with some people, starting to form a human current.

And, while Jessica was rowing, the chain increased, with eighty people joining hands, reaching a distance of one hundred meters.

Thanks to this, it was possible to save all the family members, bringing them to the sand one by one.

Roberta later commented that she did not even remember being rescued. She just remembered waking up on the beach after passing out. Her mother had to be resuscitated and was taken to the hospital in an ambulance.

Deeply grateful, she said she owed her and the lives of her family members to this great bond of solidarity that was formed when she discovered people in danger.

Good Examples

The spontaneity of this example is noteworthy. It shows us that there's always support for good, everywhere. It also shows us how open we are ready to help others when they need.

And this example teaches us another important lesson - good examples that inspire others make a big difference.

Difference between poverty and hunger. Difference between misery and acceptance. Difference between ignorance and instruction.

Final Thoughts

In essence, this story teaches us that it doesn't matter who we are, what country we come from or what language we speak. We are a single family living in the same world and our good actions not only benefit others but ourselves too.

Think about it.

Adapted from Momento Espírita, originally published on August 22, 2017.

See Also

• The Power of Love
• Weighted observation
• The most important bridge
• Bridge of Life
• A Thinking Power
• Divine Poem

Ryan's Well

How far would you go to help those in need?

Photo by Amevi Wisdom on Unsplash

He was only six years old when the first grade teacher spoke of the sad fate of children living in impoverished and disease-ravaged Africa.

Ryan shuddered to learn that hundreds of thousands of African children died each year from drinking contaminated water. His school was raising funds for Africa and he knew that seventy dollars would fund a well.

When he got home, he asked his mother for the money and said why he needed it. The mother suggested that he do extra chores to get the amount.

He took a sheet of paper and drew a diagram containing thirty-five lines. For every two dollars received, Ryan filled a line and kept the money in an empty cookie tin.

He washed windows, collected pine cones that fell in the yard, worked as he could.

One day in April 1998, Ryan handed over his seventy dollars to an international organization. The lady who answered, thanked him and explained that a hand pump cost seventy dollars, but it took almost two thousand dollars to drill a well.

So I'm going to work harder, said the boy. Parents got involved and started a donation campaign. At the age of seven, Ryan had managed to raise a little over seven hundred dollars, and the missing amount was completed by the Canadian International Development Agency.

Ryan and his parents were invited to a meeting with the Ugandan representative at the Canadian Doctors' Association for Aid and Assistance, a group that collected the funds raised and, with the help of the villagers, built and maintained the wells.

Ryan was hugged by representative Shibru, who confirmed to the boy that the well could be located near a school in Angolo, northern Uganda, but he said it took twenty people working ten days to build a well with a manual digger. A small drill cost twenty-five thousand dollars.

Willing to get the money, the boy had his story published in a Canadian newspaper and, in two months, had inspired $ 7,000 in donations.

Already in the second grade, Ryan and his classmates began to correspond with the boys of Angolo. Meanwhile, Ryan would spend hours writing letters asking for money from various organizations. Finally, he got the amount due for the purchase of the equipment.

On July 27, 2000, a truck, carrying Shibru, Ryan and their parents, went down the dirt road near Angolo. About three thousand children were waiting by the side of the road, clapping their hands. The village leaders received Ryan and took him to the well, next to the school's vegetable garden. On the concrete base it was written:

Ryan's well. Built by Ryan Hreljac. For the Angolo elementary school community.

That night, in bed, Ryan said to his mother: I'm very happy. That unforgettable day ended with the prayer he said every night: I wish that everyone in Africa has clean water.

Conclusion

Fraternity knows no boundaries and love knows no limits.

Let us allow the contagion of the good, with this willingness to help, with this feeling of caring for the other, even if we do not know the name. Even if all he needs is a glass of fresh, clean water to keep him alive.

Adapted from Momento Espírita, originally published on November 27, 2013. 

References

• Ryan Hreljac 
  
• Ryan's Well Documentaries & Book | Ryan's Well Foundation

See Also

• Weighted observation
• The most important bridge
• Bridge of Life
• A Thinking Power
• Divine Poem
• Poverty and Wealth