Level of Kindness

Some people go to priests;

Others to poetry,

I to my friends.

Virginia Woolf

Every week I attend a gathering of spiritual women.  We have been meeting for numerous years stretching, growing, learning, and sharing.  As one woman makes a discovery, through her sharing we are all moved forward.  If one woman stumbles in darkness we are there as sisters to support her best we can.  

Although we are certainly different from each other in age, career, and family, we all share the common bond of caring for the spiritual path of others.  During our time together, we ask for energy, light, and love to be sent to those we know as well as those we do not know.  We extend our intentions to our community, city, state, and across the world to all those who hunger or are lost in pain. 

Many of my friendships are equally supportive.  These "sisters of my heart"genuinely care about me and uplift me with their awareness and insight.  They seem to intuit when I need words and when I simply need the comfort of their presence. 

Frequently, it is difficult for me to reach out to others as my natural tendency is to withdraw.  It is important to remember when friends are lifting me up, they are lifting the level of kindness in the world as well.  We must be gracious receivers as well as givers.