The best people can do ...

Charles at Galveston Island, Texas, 2014.

I rarely share my devotions online, but this morning I read a bible verse that I thought had value for everyone, regardless of their faith or belief system.  Although the statement is an oversimplification of life, it is an essential truth that we should all embrace.  Imagine the lives we would have if we all stuck to this proverb.

The key to doing good is in thinking about the needs of others instead of the needs of oneself.  Consider a caring parent looking after his or her children.  They are concerned with their offspring's well-being and go out of their way to ensure their safety, health, and gratification.  In return, the children offer love and joy for the caring parent.  If we expanded this paradigm to relationships in work, school, and in the community in earnest, we would find the world would be a much better place.

I took the above photo back in 2014 while my friend Charles and I spent two weeks exploring southern Texas.  We were camping at Galveston State Park along the Gulf of Mexico and enjoying nature around us.  We were walking along the beach;.I was photographing shore birds and he was strolling in the rising tide.  When I looked over, I saw the look of utter joy and contentment on his face.  That's when I took the photo.

My friend, Charles, and I enjoy spending time together.  We often help each other out in some capacity and have fun being together.  When I think of the above proverb, I think of my relationship with him.  We owe a lot to each other.  Our relationship is based on trust and commonalities.  We also consider the needs of each other above our own (I even let him win at ping pong once in a while).  If only we could see more people in this way.

There should be more joy in giving than in receiving.  I think the hobbits had it right.

Thanks for reading. 

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Harjit Bahia - Science teacher and colleague from Garibaldi died August 2, 2024

Image
You will be missed Mr. Bahia.  You made a difference and we are sad you are gone. I keep in loose contact with my fellow retired teachers from Garibaldi Secondary School.  I talked with my long-time friend, Mike Lynch, today, and discovered that Hargit died over the summer.  Unbeknownst to him, he had an underlying heart condition and passed away after working out on his treadmill.  The date was August 2, 2024. I was shocked to hear this.  He was only 49 years old, turning 50 some 3 months later.  It was a shock to everyone, for he was loved by all who knew him.  As a teacher, Mr. Bahia was kind and fun.  He contributed to students in many ways and was always available to help those in need.   For myself, I knew him as a fellow science teacher and taught in the adjoining room to him.  He was always available to help, share ideas, and work together.  Easy to approach, I found that I could talk to him about anything and appreciat...
Read more

Munson pond - before and after road development

Image
Left - Google maps view of Munson Pond as of May 15, 2025 Right - Future view of Munson Pond from Google maps Munson Pond is a jewel of Kelowna.  Even though it used to be an open gravel pit, it is now home to countless birds and mammals and a haven for humans needing peace, a breath of fresh air, and a touch of nature.  Western Pond turtles are protected under the Endangered Species Act.  Their population is such that people lose count when trying to ascertain their number.   With the proposed road development, Munson Pond will lose valuable ecologically important land, will suffer from an increase in urban traffic, and will likely be affected by nearby housing developments that are sure to come.  All of this development will put more pressure on the inhabitants and result in a decrease in both biodiversity and population.   A further injury to the pond will be an increase in eutrophication due to nearby residential and commercial development....
Read more

Cruise ships - are birds dying by the thousands?

Image
Golden crowned sparrow aboard the Noordam on our trip to Alaska. This was one lucky bird, unlike many of his feathered friends.  The passengers aboard the cruise ship who woke early saw the most stunning sight; the sky was crowded with passerine birds of many species silhouetted against the early morning sky.  The birds, in the midst of migrating, had been attracted to the vessel's lights during the evening and early morning hours. I awoke a little later than those who first took in this spectacle, but I was still amazed at the thousands of birds that circled the ship.  My awe was cut short when I entered the Lido deck where the large glass canopy was dotted with bodies, not of people, of course, but of birds.  They had flown down to the ship's surface at night, attracted by the lights, and plunged directly into the glass structure.  Dead on impact. These weren't the only casualties; there were more.  And then there were the birds that struck the sides of t...
Read more