Generosity of Spirit Takes Flight
The generosity of spirit we share with each other gives us superpowers to be bigger than we ever thought we could be and better than we ever thought possible.
-Katie Mahon and Joan Luise Hill in The Miracle Collectors
We recognized years ago in our miracle journey that generosity of spirit was the secret sauce, the "1 thing" that is at the foundation of living and working well together. Now, years later, we realize that generosity of spirit, this practical, yet abstract, way of connecting is contagious. Seeing generosity of spirit in action is one of life's miracles. This month Joan shares her profound sense of wonder as generosity of spirit spreads to her new community, echoing Beethoven's words, "From the heart, it has to come, to the heart, it must go."
Collecting Miracle Moments One Story at a Time.
Joan and Katie
We all know 2020 is a year for the ages, and our family is no different in the challenges this year has brought - my broken back, my daughter's wedding postponed, then canceled and finally reconfigured, the excitement of a new property, the devastation of a wildfire, the death of a beloved puppy, a new grandson - and, there are still nearly three months left in the year!
Two months after buying our new 700 acre winery and ranch, the capricious Carmel fire destroyed over 600 acres. It was heart-wrenching to say the least, but no lives were lost and the firefighters heroically saved all but one of our buildings. Our son and fiancé who run the operation wanted to provide an opportunity for the neighbors, many of whom lost their homes and everything in them, to come together to help identify their needs, offer assistance with completing and translating the numerous emergency forms we all have to fill out, and as a winery with an Italian name provide pizza on a Sunday afternoon.
Lest we forget, it's the time of COVID with no large gatherings, so the 8-hour day was planned to space out attendees, though we had no idea if any would even come. The first to arrive were the firefighters with their engines and rescue trucks filling our driveway with remarkable souls whose ages spanned multiple generations, and whose mission was the same - to help others in need. They appreciated the thank you's though they had to leave abruptly when they got an immediate call for assistance. Others who live in the community, from the burned estate homes on the hill to the trailer park in the valley, all came to tell their stories. We were overwhelmed by their presence and then, another miracle, a call from a family who had collected 60 huge boxes of produce and were on their way to bring their offering to those in need. It was as if time stopped and another miracle was on its way.
Hope is truly the thing with feathers and the contagious nature of generosity of spirit had taken flight. The resilience of those who had lost everything uplifted all of us. Amid the laughter and camaraderie, the tears that had been shed were left behind, blame was non-existent, and gratefulness reigned supreme. All of us were inspired to pull forward with compassion and understanding, more connected to each other, true generosity of spirit in action. (Joan)
As always, we welcome hearing your thoughts, comments, and especially your miracle stories on our blog page. Visit us and our new look on The Miracle Collectors website and share it with a friend. For musical inspiration check out The Miracle Collectors playlist on Spotify.