One More “Like” on Gracebook
I have to admit that I have my resistance to Facebook. The pages have become so busy, so commercial—and do I really need to see an instant pic of Cousin Sadie’s latest dental work? And they keep changing the format so I have to figure out how to navigate all over again. The competition for the most “likes” reminds me of junior high school.
All that changed for me last week when I received news that the son of one our coach graduates had passed away unexpectedly. MaryAnn was on Maui after a training with her daughter Erika when she received the news herself. The two were scurrying to take the next flight home in a few hours, a grueling 24-hour ordeal routed all around the U.S. In their state of heart they obviously could not at all be looking forward to such travels.
Immediately my partner Dee went onto Facebook and put out a call to help these dear people have a better flight home. She asked if anyone had connections or miles with the airline to upgrade the two for a first class ride. Quickly a very kind and generous person, remaining anonymous, took care of business, and when MaryAnn and Erika arrived at the airport, two first class seats were waiting for them for the first leg of their journey.
Then, while the two were in flight over the ocean to Los Angeles, two coach graduate peers pitched in. When MaryAnn and Erika arrived at that airport, they were given total access to the two frequent flyer accounts to upgrade their remaining flights. On both flights, mom and daughter got the last two seats on the aiplane—together.
Later MaryAnn reported to me that while they were in tears upon departure, many airport staff felt and wept with them, including the Delta airline agents, TSA, and baggage handlers. I was deeply touched by the kindness and caring of everyone who made our friends’ lives a little easier when they needed it most. I won’t knock Facebook again. The lesson for me was that everything depends on how you use it. Facebook can be a mishmash of ego and sales frenzy, or a vessel for the Force of Love to bring healing and comfort.
All things are neutral, without positive or negative value, or any meaning whatsoever, until we put them to use. Everything is manipulated by either love or fear. If we live in a fear-based world, that is because that is what we make of it. If we live in a love-based world, that also is our creation. Here lies the true power we own.
A Course in Miracles tells us, “Miracles are performed by those who temporarily have more for those who temporarily have less.” On any given day you may need a miracle which I can supply for you. The next day I may need a miracle you can supply for me. As English novelist George Eliot asked, “What do we live for if not to make life less difficult for each other?”
The story is told of a man who departed the world and was being given a tour of various dimensions beyond the earth. His guide opened a door to a room where he saw a group of people at a lavish banquet. Yet everyone was sad and starving. Looking closer, the visitor saw that these people were holding spoons longer than their arms, so that even while plenty of food was right before them, they could not get the food into their mouths. “This, sir, is hell,” the guide told him.
“Then show me heaven,” the visitor requested. The guide then took him to another room where another group was offered a similar feast. They too had spoons longer than their arms. Yet these people were smiling and well fed. As the visitor looked closer, he saw a crucial difference in this room: The people here had learned to feed each other.
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About the Author
Alan Cohen is the author of I Had it All the Time: When Self-Improvement Gives Way to Ecstasy. If you would like to become a professional life coach or incorporate life coaching skills in your career or personal life, join Alan’s celebrated Life Coach Training Program. For more information about this program, Alan’s books, free daily inspirational quotes, and his weekly radio show, visit www.alancohen.com.
