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Pebbles from President Rebecca Dunaway
Volunteering for the Stone Soup Project is an opportunity to give to others. In my experience it oftentimes seems like I am the recipient.
Recently there were two such experiences.
We were at a place we go to on the 4th Monday of each month. There is a regular gentleman who is always waiting for us and eager to catch up with Don and asks about every volunteer he has ever encountered and how and what they are doing.
He wasn’t there last month because of an illness and was not going to come this month for the same reason. Don suggested the receptionist call his room and let him know we were asking about him. A few minutes later he showed up. He was anxious because he couldn’t lay on the table and needed to sit in a chair. He felt awkward because of his health condition and started to talk about it and why he didn’t want to come out of his room for any of the functions. He came out of his room on this night because of his relationship with Don and the Stone Soup Project.
There were three of us available at that moment to share Reiki with this gentleman. Once the session started the most amazing thing happened. It was a cloudy-ish day (it is Ohio after all) and suddenly this bright ray of sunlight came through the windows and shone directly on him. Mostly on his chest and belly (the area of his health issue.) Not anywhere else in the room. The sunbeam was focused on him. He asked afterwards if we noticed it, too. We did and he began chatting like his normal self.
Meanwhile another regular came in. She had been going through a particularly awkward time and started sharing a bit and how she was losing faith because her church wasn’t supportive of her lifestyle. She got on the table and closed her eyes and not more than 5 minutes into the Reiki session the sun was shining on her. She was on the other side of the room and again that was the only place in the room where the sun was shining. Directly on her. When we were finished she said “I could feel the sun shining on me. I feel lighter. It makes me feel like I am valued and appreciated when you guys come here.”
So – it is Ohio, and the sun does whatever it pleases, mostly hiding behind clouds. But is it possible that it can shine on someone in need at just the right time to add to the Reiki session giving additional encouragement in a setting that is full of people who have had some awkward times?
For me and my heart, I believe it can and does encourage us to remember that just by showing up without attachment to the outcome beautiful and magical moments can be experienced by everyone. Benefiting both the giver and receiver and sometimes I’m not so sure who’s who? Are we the recipients or the givers? Are we all the recipients when we have a shared experience?
If you haven’t volunteered recently or not at all, consider coming to one of the opportunities available and experience for yourself the many gifts of Stone Soup Project.
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