The Lack of Distance

I read this in a newsletter today and it touched me:

"Recently the National Service field lost a hero, advocate and friend. Many AmeriCorps members, VISTA's, Learn & Serve participants, and others working in the field have never heard the name Eli Segal (this is true about me). Yet all of them have been touched by Eli's vision, leadership and tremendous dedication to community service. Working under President Clinton, Eli shaped the legislation that created AmeriCorps and the Corporation for National and Community Service and served as the first CEO of the Corporation... Eli once said,

"Great people are measured by the lack of distance between themselves and others."

I don't know this man but being that I'm a VISTA in AmeriCorps, I am very grateful for what he has done and how he has affected so many other people. I really don't think we comprehend how much we influence people around us. I think we little realize or recognize the impact we make for good!

I have a friend who doesn't have much money himself but has decided to give $1.00 a day to someone who is homeless. He said to me one day, "Kylee, it is not up to us to decided what they will do with this money, but God will know if we could have given more." He inspired me that day. I have a friend who has the most amazing quiet dignity that I know. He always thinks before he speaks (which oftentimes frustrated me) and he never speaks when he shouldn't. He has this amazing ability to lift and inspire those around him. I have learned a great lesson from him that sometimes less is more. I know a girl who has a completely different view of the world than I. She sees art in everything-in everyone. Her heart is so big sometimes I think it might burst! Things that I think look ordinary become extraordinary by her touch and in seeing their transformations I learn from her daily how to better have the Lord's vision. There is a homeless lady that sits on the ground across from where I work everyday and every morning as I pass she smiles. She doesn't have much but to me she teaches strength, endurance and the power of positivity (is that a word??). There are so many more and I could go on and on, but you know what I'm talking about.

May I be a little kinder, talk a little softer, see a little more clearly, and shorten the distance between others and myself!