My friend, Rabbi Kalman Packouz manages to find spirituality in all sorts of places and situations.
Once, while riding a bus, he noticed that not only was the bus driver grumpy, but he seemed to be “spreading misery to everyone who boarded his bus. It was as if he saw each passenger as an intrusion and if there were no passengers, he could just drive his route in peace.”
Wondering if he could somehow help the driver to change his attitude, he offered:
“You are doing a wonderful kindness!”
“What do you mean?” grumbled the driver.
“You are helping so many people — a woman to take her son to the doctor, a man to visit his elderly father, a soldier to return to his base, a little boy to go to school; you have a wonderful job — just by driving the bus you can do so many acts of kindness!”
The bus driver said, “I never thought of it that way. You’re right!”
Now, admittedly, it’s not always that easy to help someone change their attitude; to elicit a reframe from misery to, instead, joy and gratitude.
I’m also not suggesting you be so bold as the Rabbi by doing that with strangers. 🙂 On the other hand, in the proper and safe environment, that can be an excellent thing to do.
However, the lesson is that when we really look at what we do, we can all find “Holiness in the mundane.” We can see and appreciate the spiritual aspect.
It begins with looking for ways to be grateful. And, once the context of gratitude has been established, it’s amazing how good we can feel.
How do you touch peoples’ lives through what you do? Count the ways. I guarantee you there are many!
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Bob –
Thank you!
The value of this post for me resides in realization: “Whoa! Sometimes I be that bus driver-
Best take a turn into the light.”
Wayne
Interesting story…caught my eye as we have a “scandal” here in Halifax about a school bus driver who has been suspended for breaking up a fight on the bus with some “salty” language. I can’t help but think that she was probably doing a “kindness” to the kid that was getting beat on when she stood up and stopped the fight. Yet she will likely lose her job because she let the language come out in doing so. I don’t think we appreciate the service providers in our lives nearly enough.
What a great post, a way to remind us that there s always something holy in what we do, whatever it is and we sometimes, don t seem to be aware of that.
Gracias Bob por compartirlo. Besos.
Anita: What a shame. I’m so sorry to hear that. Of course, I don’t know the entire story, but if it took the salty language to break up the fight and she actually loses her job over it, then that is certainly a case of “style over substance.” I hope everything works out for everyone involved.
Wayne: Well said, as always, my great friend!
Maria (Pili): Muchas gracias, mi amiga, por sus siempre palabras muy kind. Besos a ti, tambien!
That’s a VERY BEAUTIFUL viewpoint – always look at the bright side of life! We are all spiritual beings – and in my viewpoint, everything we DO has a spiritual touch, if we allow ourselves to have that attitude of gratitude.
A child always find and give that! So always keep the child in you to keep your spiritual touch – no matter what any one else says or sees – it’s also called dreams, love and magic “a dear child has many names” Love and hugs and thank’s for a spiritual inspiring article Bob.
Lene: Very nice, as always. Thank you for your thoughts and kind feedback!
Dear Bob,
I love stories like this!
I remember reading a story about a Monk who found it a blessing to wash dishes (by hand) while he prayed over each person who had touched the plate he washed.
When I first started working in the healthcare field, I started by reading doctor’s writing, to become familiar with all things medical. The first thing I did was to do a study on abuse, to research when abuse seemed to happen the most, what time and what season, etc. I read some medical reports that broke my heart, and at first, I became so very sad, I wanted to find a different career even though I was good at what I was doing.
Long story, short, I kept being Guided back to the career I have and even went back to College when my children were in High School…even took one College course with my daughter! LOL! Needless to say, I learned to re-frame what I was constantly being exposed to as a chance to pray for hurting people who have never known I prayed for them.
I’m not telling this to make something of myself, because I’m not. …because I HAD to do it to survive a difficult and stressful career choice.
And eventually went on to write a newsletter titled “The Attitude of Gratitude Encourager.” Because one of the Sisters of Mercy wanted me to teach my attitude to others! Remember? You helped me with a few of those.
Just one more way, Bob, that you have touched the lives of others.
And I remember…
Pam
Pamela: Thank you. Very powerful. Thank you for sharing that with all of us. Very inspiring!
I love this story Bob. It just goes to show how re-framing a situation can give you a whole new perspective. And improve your mood!
Joseph: Thank you! Amazing indeed what a little bit of a reframe can do, isn’t it? Sometimes it takes another to help us to do it; even better when we can form the habit of doing it ourselves. 🙂 Thank you for your comment!
Being grateful must be a lifetime habit for a better life, it’s the beginning of abudance!!!
We must take time to thank everything even adversity because there is a purpose for our own good
Julio: Gracias por sharing with us. Indeed, it is such a key habit; a vital character trait. Thank you!
I wonder if the paradigm shift was well-received because it came from a Rabbi? Something about the “official good nature” of the position to make someone take it in the absolute best light? 🙂
Beth: I don’t know. That’s a great question! Perhaps being a member of the Clergy allows a person some additional latitude in those situations. 🙂 I’ll have to ask him if he felt that was the case.