A true story about small acts of generosity, from which I learn that it’s also generous to receive what another gives.
May you live generously.
May you receive with generosity.
Waking Up to the Battle for Living Generously – Scene 1
Friday morning 5:30 AM September 19, 2014.
I wake up. Later this same day I’ll begin a loving-kindness meditation retreat led by Sharon Salzberg.
I enjoy two cups of coffee.
Side note: My freshly ground home brewed coffee is better than Starbucks.
There isn’t much in the house by way of breakfast. So, I leave early and stop at a nearby coffee shop for a cinnamon chip scone – a rarely indulged favorite fat and calorie loaded treat. (I’ll eat one quarter and save the rest for future breakfasts.)
The Coffee Shop – Scene 2
This is where the battle for living generously begins.
One person is ahead of me in line – probably a college student. We’ll call her Sara.
Sara: I’d like an English Breakfast Tea, please.
Madam Barrist-ress: (Steps away. Brews the tea and hands it to Sara) Here you go.
Sara: (Leaning over the sign taped to the counter that reads “$5.00 minimum for all credit card orders”.) Please, I need to pay by credit card just this one time. I don’t have any cash.
Madam Barrist-ress: Sorry. I’ll get in trouble if I let you do that.
Sara: (Imploringly) How about if I order something, pay for it, and you can give it to someone else?
Madam Barist-ress: (Mumbles another form of “No”.)
Having had my morning coffee my brain is alert, and it occurs to me that I can solve Sara’s problem.
Me: (To Sara) You can put my scone on your credit card and I’ll give you the cash.
Sara: I’ll just pay for your scone.
Me: (Reaching into my wallet) I can’t let you do that. I’ll give you cash for the scone, and we’ll all get what we want. It’s perfect.
Sara: You can’t stop me from paying.
I’ve just been stopped in my tracks.
Thought Bubble: Woah! She just won the battle for living generously. But the war has just begun, and I’m sure to have another chance.
Me: (To Sara) Thank you. That’s very generous of you.
Sara: You’re welcome
Sara celebrates her victory in the Battle for Living Generously by handing her credit card to Madam Barist-ress and walks away with tea in hand.
Meanwhile Madam smiles graciously. She’s been standing by as a spectator, enjoying the Battle for Living Generously. But I have other plans for her, and she’s about to be become a victim of the battle.
I step forward to receive the loser’s spoils in the Battle for Living Generously – one freshly baked, still slight warm and very delicious, cinnamon scone. Then I place a generous tip in Madam’s jar.
The real victory, however, belongs to all three of us. We have begun our day by sharing acts of living generously. Each one of us is smiling. It’s a gracious beginning to our Friday morning. We connected to our shared humanity in a world where we don’t often stop to do so. We connected. The energy we shared remains with each of us. Who knows how others might benefit throughout the day? It’s a small act that made a difference – a shared smile over a cup of tea, a scone, and a credit card.
Post Retreat: Loving-kindness meditation is opening my heart, putting a smile on my face, and changing the way I move through the day. Twenty minutes a day is making this difference.
Try it. You might like it.