Week 364
Positive post Sunday, February 18, 2024…. Week 364. Have you ever experienced a moment where you felt “the need to do a good deed”? Michele and I were blessed to spend time in Newport Beach these past four weekends. Newport Beach, particularly Balboa Island and East Bluff, is our happy place where we go to relax, unwind, and take time to give thanks to our Lord for our many blessings. We especially enjoy attending Mass at Saint John Vianney Chapel on Balboa Island.
Feeling inspired by our good Lord, I woke up at 5am each Sunday morning, and with my laptop in hand, headed out to open the local Starbucks and write my PPS. Armed with a venti skinny hot chocolate and a butter croissant, I sat in the same seat each week and typed away.
This morning, while sitting in front of my fireplace at home, my usual spot to write, I reflected on my last four PPS writings, “The Triangle of Love”, “The Triangle of Life”, recognizing and listening to God when he speaks to us in our daily lives, and picking the low hanging spiritual fruit in our lives. Although I’d like to give Starbucks credit, there was clearly a higher authority at work these past four Sundays in Newport Beach. My best and deepest writing clearly occurs when my mind is free, I’m in a comfortable and relaxed environment, and most importantly, I let Jesus take the keyboard.
Now back to the need to do a good deed. No, although inspiring, this is not a Helpful Honda Person commercial. The inspiration for this action came directly from our Lord. As background, I’m a self-admitted people watcher. In fact, much of the inspiration for my PPS writings come from simply observing others with a spiritual lens.
While sitting in the Newport Beach Starbucks early in the morning writing my PPS on February 4th, three women walked in. At first, I thought they may have been from Honda as they were all wearing blue polo shirts and they got out of a big blue van. As I looked closer, I noticed their shirts and the van had a logo stating Be Well. They appeared to be going to work early on Sunday morning.
I’d seen many people come and go that morning, but as I have seen Michele do many times, I felt inspired to anonymously pay their bill, and I did so. Seeing the smiles on their faces as they looked around trying to figure out who paid their bill warmed my heart. After they left, I thought to myself, why them. Why did I feel the need to do a good deed for them. When they left, I looked up Be Well Orange County and found my answer. According to their website BeWellOC – Hope Starts Here Be Well Orange County aspires to make Orange County the happiest and healthiest community in the United States, noting that this requires a world-class mental health care system. Their mission is to make compassionate mental health care more accessible for the community. They provide support and treatment for mental health and substance abuse challenges.
It turns out that the 3 ladies were part of the Be Well OC Mobile Response Team and they were likely on their way to provide in-community assessment and crisis stabilization services to individuals experiencing mental health or substance use challenges. It was truly an honor to put a smile on their face as they headed out early in the morning to serve others. Like many families, my family has experienced challenges with mental health and I thank the Lord for allowing me to pay it forward, even with a small and humble gesture.
All my positive posts are now available at www.positivepostsunday.com.
Where is your happy place, the place you go to rejuvenate and where you feel closer to God?
When have you felt the need to do a good deed, did you act on it?
