President's Message - PDG Ed Charlesworth

 

 

President's Message
Ed Charlesworth

Certain stress resistant characteristics have been positively associated with higher levels of trust, tolerance, warmth, self-sufficiency, resourcefulness, tranquility, composure, and self-assurance. Research has shown that a meaningful life includes the ability to deal with life crises in such a way as to bring about enhanced coping and personal growth. I hope you enjoy our inspirational moment in our newsletter this week. It shows how a random act of kindness can even save someone’s life. I also feel that our “service above self” acts save our own life by fueling us with a meaningful life walking with others of all faiths and political persuasions waging peace through our health, hunger and humanitarian programs.

One of my friends shared the following story:
A Rabbi asked the Lord about Heaven and Hell. "First," answered the Lord, "I will show you Hell." The Rabbi found himself in a room where a dozen people were seated around a large round table. The people were moaning from the pain of starvation. In the middle of the table there was a great pot of stew with more than enough for everyone. The delicious smell of the stew made the Rabbi's mouth water. The people around the table held spoons with very long handles. Each could reach the pot to take a spoonful of the stew, but because the spoon handles were longer than a man's arm, no one could position the food back into their mouth. Some were so frustrated they were hitting one another. The Rabbi saw that the suffering was terrible.
            "Now," said the Lord, "I will show you Heaven." The Rabbi entered another room identical to the first. There was the same large, round table and the same big pot of stew. The people were holding the same long-handled spoons, but here they were all well nourished and healthy, laughing and talking. For a moment the Rabbi was confused.
            "It is simple," said the Lord. "You see, they have learned to feed each other."
 
"Unhappiness is the hunger to get; happiness is the hunger to give."
        
At the excellent Board of Directors meeting last week we began to plan for next year. We need all members to help to feed each other through whatever service you can bring to the club. Perhaps this year you will find the avenue of service that makes your life meaningful. We need help in all the avenues of service: Club Service (club secretary, newsletter editor, fellowship committee, webmaster, etc.), Vocational Service (training programs for those in prison or with intellectual deficits, mentoring those rehabbing from addictions, etc.), International Service (Books for the World, Children of the Dump, college scholarships for those in third world countries, etc.), Community Service (help with preserving planet earth in our community with cleanup days, Habitat For Humanity, etc.), New Generations programs (EarlyAct, Interact, Rotaract, host a youth exchange student, etc.), and The Rotary Foundation (donating to Polio Plus or the Annual Fund so that our club is eligible for matching grants to make our benevolent dollars go further, becoming a benefactor, etc.). Whatever you can help with will be greatly appreciated by all club members as we feed each other the sustenance of a meaningful existence through “service above self.”