Time to Make a Wish

“People have found inner peace by losing themselves in a cause larger than themselves. Finding inner peace means coming from the self-centered life into the life centered.” – Peace Pilgrim

This is my cousin, Lynn, who because of Make-A-Wish went to Disney World. It was the last trip she and her brother Andrew would take together and one that neither will ever forget.

The more we focus on pain and negativity, the more both multiply. [Tweet this.]

Last weekend my entire body ached, both ears were congested and I felt exhausted. Leaving for a busy travel week on Monday brought no relief as the symptoms continued. Slept in and arrived at the airport late. The line for security was longer than normal, they ran my bags three times and the wait for breakfast was too long. My three-hour flight would have to be fueled by peanuts.

I watched the passengers line up and file onto the plane. It was evident that there would be more kids on this plane than adults. I realized that I was not just on a flight headed to Orlando, but for any of the passengers on a flying school bus to Disney.

Poor me!

Then the pendulum of self-centeredness finally started swinging toward life-centeredness.

As I made my way on and gradually toward the back of the plane, I noticed that the kids all had the same stickers on their shirts and hats on their heads. Looking closer, these were sick children and their siblings celebrating life. The organization Make-A-Wish was sending these kids and their families on a trip to Disney World; a vacation from treatment schedules and the reality of terminal disease. This time would be a holiday to bring joy, hope and unity to families and children who knew too much about real suffering, challenges and pain.

As I walked past these brave, smiling children my ears cleared and aches dissipated. My need for an aisle seat or a big breakfast left me. For the first time that day, the focus was no longer on me. The moment went from being about my needs to praying for theirs.

And in that simple shift everything changed. 

Today, how much are you focusing on the pain and negativity of life? How’s that working for you?

What might happen if you turned from being self-centered toward life-centered? [Tweet this.]

Being life-centered doesn’t make your pain disappear, but instead serves as a reminder that pain is relative, life is precious, and love for others is transformative.

Those who are self-centered never have enough. Those who are life-centered, even when things aren’t perfect, always have enough.

Be on fire today for the great gift of your life.

John O’Leary

I met the executive director of Make-A-Wish recently. David Williams is a very good person, with a very big heart, leading a very beautiful organization. For every share and comment today, I’ll be donating $5 to this light-bringing and life-breathing organization. So connect with me online (blog, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter) and share away. Let’s find inner peace, life-centeredness AND make a difference together.