(Shanti Bahvan’s First graduating class)

Dr. Abraham George was born in the seaside city of Trivandrum, Kerala, India. He migrated to America where he became very wealthy in the field of international finance.

Dr. George returned to India in January 1995.

He was always aware of the lowest class of 300 million poorest of the poor people referred to as “Untouchables.” He wanted to help them emerge from the generational hopelessness of their lives.

He invited poor children from age four to age eighteen to live in a residential school that would provide a high quality education leading to acceptance into India’s finest universities.

Upon graduation, he expected them to lift up the living standards of family members and friends left behind.

So, he founded Shanti Bhavan (Haven of Peace) Residential School.

As of 2017, the first four classes graduated from college and are employed by global companies like Mercedes Benz, Goldman Sachs and Ernst & Young!

Two bombs were exploded at the April 15, 2013 Annual Boston Marathon.

In all the horror, there are also heartening stories about how kindness emerged from tragedy:

people on Twitter urging others to note the people who run towards the explosions, not away from them, to help;

stories of heroism from runners;

journalists who ran the marathon, springing into action to cover the story;

the first responders.

As we remember to be good to one another in the face of this event, here are some of those initial reports:   

Reports of Marathon Runners that crossed the finish line and continued to run to Mass General Hospital to give blood to victims

Some runners offered their jackets to help keep people warm: 

“Residents from the houses along the route brought out food and water for the runners.”

Two Lutheran pastors walked along Commonwealth Avenue, Bibles in hand for those who needed comfort. (theatlantic.com)

Some people are at their best when attending to the suffering of complete strangers!

Other types of loneliness are legitimate, but not this one.

“How, after all, can you be married and lonely?”

This is a type of loneliness that blooms when you are married to someone who doesn’t love you.

This is not a periodic loneliness. No, it is a constant loneliness that never leaves you!

It is the loneliness that arrests the blood flowing to and from your heart when you share your deepest feelings, only to have them ignored.

It is the loneliness that sees you, at a dinner with several other people, playing your part to the best of your ability.

It is the love that was once there and has now become a betrayal.

Until, one morning, you wake up and realize that you have given away so much of yourself that you are a shadow of the person you once were.   

An Epidemic of Loneliness in America!      (CBS News)

If you ever feel disconnected from others, take some solace in the fact that you’re not alone. A new report finds that many Americans are lonely, and younger adults appear to be the hardest hit.

The study, published by the global health service company. Cigna, found that 46 percent of U.S. adults report sometimes or always feeling lonely and 47 percent report feeling left out.

Cigna calls those “epidemic levels.”

What’s more, only around half of Americans say they have meaningful in-person social interactions on a daily basis, such as having an extended conversation with a friend or spending time with family members.

How about you?

Most people today are absorbed in the issues of their own lives. So, they don’t seem to have either the time or inclination to reach out to strangers.

Join organizations with whom you have something in common.

You don’t have to live a life of loneliness.

If not today, when?

A vital part of our publishing business years ago, was to take outgoing packages to the post office. We got to know the postal workers rather well and considered them friends. One day, we noticed that one of the postal clerks seemed very sad. We finally asked, “Is there a problem?”

Come to find out, her husband had died and left her with not much money and three children still at home. The worst part was that she would have to take her oldest son out of the private school he was attending for his senior year. She was afraid that moving him to a new school would, along with the loss of his dad, be very hard on him.

We decided that the young man’s future was a very good investment for us. We paid his tuition and celebrated his graduation and acceptance into college.

About 6 years ago, I was on a plane next to a woman who was relentlessly energetic and fidgety. She tapped me on the shoulder and introduced herself.

“Hi, my name is Helga!”

I told her I had started an organization in high school called Random Acts of Kindness. Helga got very serious and said “there was nothing more important in the world than Kindness.”

Three years ago, Helga was en route to Arizona because her Dad had suddenly passed away. When she arrived at the airport, she walked to the nearest wall, sat down, and cried.

For two hours she sat and wept while thousands walked to and fro. Not a single person stopped and asked if she was okay.

It was that day that she realized that Kindness Isn’t Normal.”

Be Kind!

In 2004, there were banners in Anaheim California, that said “Make Kindness Contagious.” A holistic doctor put them up.

He told a story about his daughter, Natasha, who died in a car accident. Many friends and neighbors told stories about little six year old Natasha constantly writing and talking about Kindness. He found impactful words about Kindness tucked away in her bedroom closet. He said Natasha’s wish was for a kinder world.

He then said something very profound.

He said that in medicine, one could either treat the symptoms, or one can stimulate the body to heal from within. And that has something to do with Kindness.”

Six years later a man ran for mayor on a platform of kindness and won!

Believe in and practice the great power of kindness in your daily life.

It is what the world needs now!

If not today, when?

My wife and I decided to go to one of our favorite restaurants yesterday after attending church.

Because it was Sunday, a large buffet was being offered. This buffet has a rule that an employee will put your selections on the plate for you.

So, after the salad choices came a great variety of offerings. He handed me the salad plate while he began to fill a second one. I think he noticed, while I was holding the full salad plate, that my hands shake a little.

Every other customer in line carries two plates of food to their table themselves.

Once he had filled my second plate, however, he asked me to hand him the salad plate. He had decided that he would carry both plates to our table so I wouldn’t be in danger of dropping some food.

Kindness is a awesome thing. Reach out to someone in KINDNESS!

If not today, when?

We had numerous foster children live with us!

The foster care system, according to the statistics, is overwhelmed with children needing love and a safe environment.

The length of time that a child needs your help varies with the circumstances of each child. Some are adopted out within a few months of coming to live with you.

Others never find an adopted home and finally “age out” at age eighteen and must pretty much fend for themselves.

Inviting a foster child into your home is a big act of Kindness. Each child will bring his/her own personal history. They are in need of love, patience, compassion and understanding.

Do you want to make a POSITIVE DIFFERENCE WITH YOUR LIFE?

Then, give your love to a struggling child who is not loved!

Will it be easy? No!

Will it be the most important thing you’ve ever done with your life? Probably!

If not today, when?

We just finished watching a Netflix film entitled, “Rising Phoenix.”

It is the incredible story of those born without limbs who go on to participate as a Paralympian.

A man born without arms wins a silver medal in archery at the Rio Olympics. He loads the arrow into the bow with the toes on his left foot and aims and triggers the bow with his right foot.

Each athlete in the film has a personal story of coping with and overcoming terrible handicaps along the winding path to victory witnessed by millions around the world.

While watching the film, I asked myself, “So, what do you have to complain about?”

A happy life must be lived with perspective!

Despite our day-to-day difficulties, we must live with gratitude for the many blessings that have come our way.

This blog is now on LinkedIn and Facebook. I got a message from a man living in Uganda.

I asked him how his life is going and he replied, “I thank God for my life, but we have no food!”

Count your blessings!!!!