Give more - March 6, 2010, Pawnee Rock, KS

Sister Ginger tells me on our drive back from Greensburg, KS, on a pitch black night, that the only way to reach peace in the world is by finding peace within and with your own self. “In here,” she says with a graceful, yet deliberate hand over her chest (or wherever her soul rests), “here is where there needs to be peace. How else will we each be able to bring goodness into the world without peace within?” I believe her, even though I am quite preoccupied with Ginger’s driving in the the middle of the road and her white knuckles clenching the wheel (she is scared of deer frolicking into the road). I take what she says to heart, because I have experienced that feeling inside. The trust in myself to know myself enough to deliver my strengths to the world, in order to make it a better place. In fact, Ginger’s words make up the foundation of the message I am sharing across the nation - you have the unique power to make a positive difference in the world just by being yourself...your true self, a self that comes out when you do what you love.

You must understand Sister Ginger, the most amazing PERSON I have ever met in my life. She is an adorable 80-something year old Sister of St. Joseph, and she just exudes love for everyone. Ginger is my friend, a true friend, made last September as I ran through Pawnee Rock, KS, and we were reunited at Heartland Farm this past weekend, a place that Ginger, 3 other sisters and a few other folks spend their time loving the land, raising alpacas, and working for a sustainable integration of body, mind and spirit. It really is the most magical place I have ever been in my entire life. Yet Ginger is magical on her own. In fact, I was taking a shower downstairs in my guest house on the farm, and I turned off the water to hear, “Katieeeeee, are you here?! Katie!? Hello!” coming from above. It was Sister Ginger! I quickly rolled myself in a towel, walked to the base of the steps, and looked up to see her...after months! Her absolute first reaction was to put her arms wide above her head, as if she were hanging from the monkey bars, and say, “oooooooooooo!” I ran up the stairs, half-naked, and fall into her arms. We embrace each other with such joy and the only thing she says to me is, “I looooooooove you.” Ginger is this type of person. A person that anyone should take an example from. She is a mini-God in a way. Such love to all people.

Sister Ginger:

The Farm's backyard:

More Farm's backyard;-)

Well, we finally arrived back at the farm after an evening at my first Catholic Mass and community pasta supper ever (in a town that was completely destroyed by a tornado two years ago). I learned about Ginger’s life story on this ride back, and we shared dreams (even an 80-something has dreams too!). I got out of the car to step into my house, and Ginger steps out with me. “Oooh, Lord, look up at the stars. So wonderful they are,” Ginger gasps. I look up. I gaze. We gaze. Then in the starlight, Ginger looks upon me, as if she were my angel, and says to me, “oh Katie, blessings to you my dear. I love you,” and places both her her hands over my forehead...her gorgeous, worked hands that have tilled so much life.

People are incredible, but my question is how are people incredible? They are not everywhere, but they are anywhere. How is Ginger such a mother to the world? How has she become the 21st century Mother Teresa that she is today? Her genuine love left me in awe, but it shouldn’t have...

See, we all can be like Ginger, that’s the beauty of it. This is what I am seeing all across the nation - incomprehensibly magnificent people who genuinely care about you, your life, your dreams, your hardships. People who feel joy when you are joyous, sit and cry with you when you cry, and those who face challenges with you, side by side. There are so many people who have shown me that humanity still exists within our nation, we just have to be open to it, we just have to ASK for it, we just have to trust that each one of us can be humane and treat our neighbor and loved ones as we would like to be treated. These things are so simple, yet on the grand scale, being lost in our country. Whatever happened to morals? They still exist within many, yet for quite a percentage of our population, morals and service are not of priority. We need to bring this back.

I have had so much help and love showered upon me over the past year of being on the road, and I have seen humanity. The powerful thing is that just by being a good person, it inspires others to want to give too. Like me, how can I not return the generosity that I have been given for almost 365 straight days? I must give back, and I am inspired to do so, just because people were kind, loving, and good. Bring back your ethic of service, give to others, make it how you live your life. You will change lives a thousand-plus fold if you open your hearts to others, because they in turn will help others, and at least our nation will blossom again.

Give more.

Love,

Katie