Unfolding Peace Within The Wings of A Butterfly

An Inspiring Story…

I  met Peter when traveling  from a hotel located in downtown Houston to George Bush Airport, which gave us plenty of  time for conversation.  Peter shared with me in a most open way his story — how he came to Houston from Peru; that his daughter was born with a birth defect; that he was divorced; and how at one point in his journey, he had had a “shift to inner peace” completely transforming his life.  As I listened to this man, I felt truly blessed.  Here was someone who had struggled – truly struggled – in nearly every area of his life.  Yet there was no hate.  There was only love and gratitude.  We talked about destiny.  We talked about abundance.  We talked about how crisis can lead one to a life that could never have previously been imagined.

Peter shared more about his daughter and how he never took into consideration what the doctors considered would be “her life” – an incapacitated life.  Peter shared his view that his daughter had been “chosen” to enter into this life with the infliction she has because she was meant to make a difference – a difference that would help someone else.  I was extremely touched by this.

One particular story Peter shared struck me in a most profound way.   Peter told the story of something that happened a few months ago – a story about two women who had missed their shuttle to the convention center.  Peter saw the women running towards the shuttle as it pulled away from the hotel entrance.  After he saw this,  he turned around at the next corner and drove back to the hotel entrance where the two women were still standing.  He asked if they were going to the convention center.  When they said “Yes”, he offered them a ride.  They declined the ride; but he offered it again, this time being clear that he did not intend to charge them.  The two women happily got into the taxi.

During the short ride to the convention center, the women shared that they were in town for an organ donor convention.  Both of these women had lost children and upon their deaths, decided to have their children’s organs donated to others in need.  One woman shared that the donated organs of her child helped 7 other people to live healthier lives.  The other woman shared that the organs donated by her child saved 4 other lives.

As Peter approached the convention center, the women thanked him for the “free” ride.  Peter said that he had received so much from their stories and thanked them.  He gave each woman his business card and said that if they were ever in Houston again, he would be happy to drive them to any location they desired.

Peter  opened the door to let the women out of the taxi.  He extended his hand to say goodbye; but instead each woman hugged him and then asked if they could have a picture together.  The women then took  a couple of “selfies” with Peter, using their cell phones.   A gentleman standing near the entrance of the convention center noticed this and asked the women if they would like for him to take a picture of the three of them.  With an enthusiastic “yes”, Peter and the two women stood together near the cab.  And just as the gentleman was ready to snap the picture, he said, “OK, ladies, now each of you lean in and give this man a kiss on the cheek”.  He took a group photo  – complete with smiles and now kisses!

One small moment in time.  A butterfly effect.  

 

 

One precious opportunity to make a deep human connection – an opportunity that could have been easily missed had Peter not turned around to offer his taxi to two women he had seen running after a shuttle.

A coming together of three acts of kindness that changed 14 people’s lives for the better – the 11 people whose lives became healthier because of the gifts from two parents who lost their children – Peter who without hesitation offered a free ride to two breathless women standing on a street corner — and 2 women who were open enough to accept Peter’s offer and share so openly with him on a brief trip to the convention center.

 

∞ ∞ ∞

“It is not the magnitude of our actions but the
amount of love that is put into them that matters.”

∞ ∞ ∞

 

Until we can develop the inner peace to do all things with great love, we will continue to have disasters around the world.   And we need a more human approach.

Dalai Lama shares In his world peace message,  that we have not yet succeeded in bringing about peace and happiness or in overcoming suffering.  “We can only conclude there must be something seriously wrong with our progress and development, and if we do not check it in time there could be disastrous consequences for the future of humanity…we are in danger of losing touch with those aspects of human knowledge and understanding that aspire towards honesty and altruism.”

What I learned from this is that peace and happiness are not something external of us; they are something within us.  And when there is harmony within, real love and compassion for others is possible.

 

∞ ∞ ∞

“World peace must develop from inner peace.  Peace is not the absence of violence; peace is the manifestation of human compassion.”  

∞ ∞ ∞

 

And world peace is within our grasp.  Small acts of love and compassion can change the world we live in.

It takes only one minute to turn the taxi around.  It takes just one dollar to donate to those in need.  It takes only one smile to brighten someone else’s day.  And it takes just one kiss on the cheek to radiate love.

By the way, Peter and the loving acts of those two women he drove to the convention center months ago have now touched 15 people’s lives for the better.  Because my heart has been moved as well!

A butterfly effect in the making…