A scene and phenomenon taken place last Saturday at the library had my brain working hard to discover what it was and which English word, term, or phrase would be better and appropriate to describe what I witnessed. The word came to me last night as I was watching an episode of the TV series, NCIS Los Angeles. It’s the term Camaraderie. According to the definition given by an online dictionary, camaraderie is a spirit of friendly good-fellowship. An example is: There is great camaraderie among the teammates.
Though we are not soldiers of any kind of army the spirit, based upon the given definition, is about right to interpret what happened on that day.
Delivery came early that Saturday morning. Jennifer and I got our hands busy digging out gems came from different branches to meet the needs of our patrons. My brain became racing and my hand was shaking at the sight of the book, one of the series on Gecko & Sticky by Ms. Van Draanen. “This must be the book Ruby reserved and waiting for.” I held the book up for Jennifer to take a good look. Abby who was busy checking in at the page area showed up at the corner of the hallway and strode to our direction.
Abby’s facial expression was kind of interesting: a genuine smile decorated with expectation and excitement. She took away the book I was holding and exclaimed “It must be Ruby’s. I want to process the request right away.” Off Abby turned and went. Minutes passed. “Yes, it is!!!” No doubt from the high pitch of Abby’s voice and the undeniable excitement of hers told me that we just hit the bull’s eye.
Human being’s emotions and feelings, though sometimes are of mystery and not easy to decipher or decode, are telling colors of what a person is or holds oneself. The more I work with Abby and Jennifer the more I have faith in what I believe: being able to give is indeed a good source and root of a person’s happiness and a growing soul. It’s an ability that a person is able to cultivate, develop, and grow. Yes, it’s ability.
Considering the two worlds we are living in: material as well as spirit. When a person is strong and mature enough, s/he is able to open a saving account of her/his own. This account begins and represents a person’s independence, a dramatic milestone in a person’s life. One is able to put aside and save some money for the future need: get ready for a rainy day won’t hurt and will help a person to be proactive and prepared. This account is for the material world. Do you also include and open an account for the spirit world in which you are roaming at your waking hours though the world might be unseen and intangible?
There are many ways to save for your spirit’s account(s). One thing I have done when my child reached the age of owing a driver’s license was to open two accounts for them: one checking/debit account and one charity account. The formal account was to keep their allowance and let them develop and control their spending habit. It’s about time for the children to learn about the reality with real things. Then, every three months, a certain amount of money would be given to the second charity account. Sharing is a spirit and value I cherish being a human being. Luckily, without taught, my children were growing into giving souls. It’s a gift they brought into this world at their births. Being able to give is not just limited to offer materials; actually it all start with a giving heart and giving spirit. You are willing and able to give.
Did you ever see a picture of a group of creatures show the same facial expression at witnessing something or seeing something at the same time? It’s as if there are uniformed masks on their faces. It’s an interesting image, isn’t it?
Demonstration of empathy has the similar effect. Once a person has the ability to give, the brain would follow the heart doing good deeds to others. The magic wand is held at your hand. What kind of spirit is brewing in your mind, at your workplace, or at places matter to you? Show your hand!
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