Dear friends,
We are not called by God to do extraordinary things,
But to do ordinary things with extraordinary love.
So says the Canadian philosopher and theologian,
Jean Vanier.
In this meditation,
We are going to focus on the importance of the one good adult who has influenced our lives.
This could be a parent or a friend.
It might be a teacher or a mentor,
Or any adult figure whose influence has affected us and whose influence still means something to us after all the years.
We begin by bringing ourselves into presence.
To do this,
I invite you to come to an awareness of your breathing,
Your simple breathing in and your breathing out.
And as you close your eyes,
If you'd like to close your eyes,
Relax and reflect back on a time when someone performed some act of unexpected kindness or offered you some support at a time when you needed it.
In my own life,
I can recall times when the path ahead was difficult or uncertain,
Was difficult or uncertain,
And when someone's words or actions made all the difference.
In your case,
The person may have been a teacher or an employer,
Someone who noticed your potential when others did not.
It may have been a spiritual guide or mentor who offered you some quiet advice when you needed it most.
Maybe you had a friend who encouraged you to press on when you felt like giving up.
Let's pause for one minute,
Just 60 seconds of grateful appreciation.
Welcome back.
Someone who makes a difference and helps us along the path.
A person like this could be referred to as the one good adult.
Someone has given us support,
Encouragement and direction at a time when we needed it.
It's a bit like the saying of Albert Schweitzer to the effect that sometimes our own light goes out but is rekindled by the light from another person.
This individual who made a difference to you may not have been aware of their influence,
But their actions,
Words or presence at the particular time turned out to be invaluable and has made a significant contribution to your life.
The one good person in your life may not have performed spectacular deeds or grand gestures,
But in your case,
They took time to imagine your possibilities.
They listened,
Smiled or encouraged.
Smiled or encouraged,
Even pushed you to move forward instead of standing still.
Isn't it strange how sometimes these gestures when they are performed are hardly noticed,
Much less appreciated by the recipient?
It's only when we take time to look back over the years and remember with gratitude,
We realise and appreciate the influence and the effect that this one good adult has had upon our life.
It might even be too late now to give thanks,
But all is not lost.
We can give more than thanks by copying their good example.
What comes to mind when you think of this one good adult?
Their encouraging word,
Their seeing some possibility in you that you didn't see in yourself.
How has this impacted your life,
Your path,
Your direction?
Think about how this person's belief in you has shaped your journey.
What opportunities did their encouragement allow you to see?
How did their faith in you inspire greater faith in yourself?
We pause for some mindful moments of gratitude.
Welcome back again.
And as we meditate on these things,
We come to realise that we each have the capacity to be that one good adult in the lives of other people.
The influence of one good person can act as a lifeline.
These words of encouragement or small acts of compassion are often enough to shift the trajectory of a person's life,
Instilling a sense of purpose,
Worth and belonging.
The presence of one caring adult can anchor us in moments of uncertainty.
His or her presence can indicate a path ahead where our own movement forward can be at a standstill.
Why is that?
We are at a standstill because of doubt or fear or even our tendency to laziness or procrastination.
One of the most significant things the one good adult offers is belief.
Belief in our potential worth,
Especially when we are unsure of ourselves.
We learn to believe in ourselves when someone shows belief in us.
When someone trusts us,
We can learn to trust ourselves.
Their faith in our abilities can open us to possibilities that otherwise might lie dormant.
As I'm sure our own life experience teaches every one of us,
A word of encouragement,
Spoken at the right moment,
Can have a lasting effect.
It can heal wounds,
Restore spirits,
Ignite new passions.
When we feel that someone believes in us,
We gain strength to meet our own challenges.
The good person in your life might have been the one who gave you that timely injection of confidence that you needed to step into a new role,
Pursue a passion or take a leap of faith.
And we have to remember too the ripple effect of our good deeds.
Just as the one good person influenced your life,
That gives you the ability to touch the lives of other people.
Maybe you've already been a source of hope or guidance for someone else without you even realising it.
Before concluding this meditation,
Just stop to consider the possibilities,
The ways in which you can continue to pass on the ripple effect of goodness.
What small acts of kindness or encouragement can you offer today?
This very day,
You have the opportunity to be a light in someone else's life.
The goodness within you is a gift waiting to be shared.
Just as someone believed in you,
Trusted you,
You can trust and believe in someone else.
Just as someone was kind to you,
You can extend the same kindness to someone who needs it most.
Think of the people in your life who may be struggling just now,
Seeking direction,
People in need of encouragement.
One good adult in your life is your inspiration to be the same for someone else.
Namaste.
