Raising the Dead to Life

I just finished reading a book a new friend loaned me, actually she loaned me several, and I loaned her several, one was very familiar, I think many of us have read it. As she handed me her very personal copy, full of her notations, I was struck by why someone would hand me this particular read at this time.The books which always have absorbed me have been personal growth, spiritual in nature, testimonies of people's lives, books which enrich me. As it turns out those I am brought into contact with share the same appetite for literature. Like minded / hearted people seem to be drawn together, at least they have profoundly been in my life. In this most recent read, Tuesdays with Morrie, one which I have read before, (albeit a long time ago)  Morrie, a man dying of ALS shared with one of his former students an earlier encounter in his life, when he was working at a mental hospital and everyday one of the patients would wake each morning, walk from her room & lay on the floor face down & remain there until evening. This saddened Morrie, as everyone would simply ignore her. Morrie began to sit by the woman on the floor & even lay alongside her, speaking gently to her, eventually the woman rose & sat with him, and then got up and walked with him, I thought how profound that only human contact and compassion would raise this person from her loneliness & isolation. Things are so much simpler than we make them. Mother Theresa said it best; “Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you.” -- Trust me ,Mama T knew, the numbers would be endless, as there is no shortage of emptiness in peoples lives, and through doing as she did.... these "small things with great love" God uses you, in saintly fashion to fill that loneliness with His Love, and the world changes, I see it every day.
 In  Morrie's own words, he said "What she mostly wanted, he learned, was the same thing many people want--someone to notice she was there."  Of course the book is a 'life classroom' with Morrie's former student meeting a compassionate former, (yet not so former) teacher on Tuesdays as his body withered away due to his terminal illness. All of the life lessons which Morrie shared, as his worldly days clicked away are founded on  extending intentional love to others. One of the things Morrie did, is what we all should be doing with those who walk into our lives.... he had a "Living Funeral," he told people he loved them, he had 'relations' with them, and he allowed them to express their feelings to a living breathing person, and not wait until he was dead for people to say nice things to a corpse.One other thing struck me as I re-read the book, Morrie always was "Fully Present" when interacting with others, nothing on the planet entered his thoughts. People need our FULL attention, if even but for a moment or an hour, focus on others as if they were the only one alive & watch your relation s flourish!
  The 'lessons' Morrie shared are simplistic in nature, rooted in agape love, learning to give it away unconditionally & allow it to flow back in the abundant way that it will.This is what gives life meaning, satisfaction & purpose. For this young lady to put this book in my hands at this time is one of a multitude of pre-destined occurrences. Currently  a friend in her 40's is at an end of life facility that I frequent weekly. I have had  the privilege of  spending many hours with her & her family. Listening to scripture, holding her frail body & praying at length with her, all the while Jesus sat and layed down with us, I could speak to Him, literally feel Him.  Extending & receiving this compassion is a natural ingredient to the human experience which has its origin in a God of Love. We are all in varying stages of physical death, but someone powerful swallows that death up revealing eternal life. That someone is a God who sent you to this earth to intentionally " NOTICE THAT OTHERS ARE THERE"  laying on the floor waiting for A God of Love to raise them up through our witness. ALL of the people in your life are laying on the floor, waiting for you to give them what is rightfully God's. In us lies the ability to change the world, and we do it by sitting... and yes sometimes  lying next to our brothers & sisters. There is no shortage of people "wanting you to notice they are there"  God gives them to you daily, praise His Holy name for the power to heal nations, one unnoticed person at a time. I encourage you to think about those He has put in your life & compel you to go out of your way to share God's Love, it was entrusted to you for that purpose alone. All it takes is a phone call to an old friend, a note, extending common courtesy in our daily lives, getting  in the habit of showing and telling others that you love them, we all want to hear it... it raises the dead to life, and it has a power of healing which changes the world. People look for a calling and a purpose, some never find it, it is to obvious, to simple, so very overlooked. There is no greater 'skill' than opening your heart so that God's Love can penetrate the lives of His Children. That is the power that lies in each of us. I Love You, Rise up and know that 'You are Noticed'   Agape - john

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”  

Matthew 22:37-40