Romping in the Garden of the Gods
Generosity of spirit ignites an ever-expanding virtuous circle.
-The Miracle Collectors
The end of August always feels like a crossroads - the end of summer on one side and turning a corner to a new chapter on the other, whether it's school or fall or re-upping professional commitments. With change comes the opportunity to remind ourselves to exercise generosity of spirit to those we know and those we meet along the way as Katie writes about in this month’s newsletter. We hope as summer fades, you are able to seek out experiences of wonder, joy, and mystery, small miracles to light your way.
Collecting Miracle Moments One Story at a Time.
Joan and Katie
I recently read about a concept called Freudenfreude that refers to our being happy for someone else’s good fortune (the opposite of Schadenfreude). It is an element of generosity of spirit, along with taking the high road, assuming positive intent, or being inclusive. Generosity of spirit is a hallmark of good friendships and collaborations of all kinds; it exercises the best part of ourselves.
I was reminded of generosity of spirit at the recent Olympic Games in Paris when USA’s Simone Biles and Jordan Childs bowed during the medal ceremony to the Brazilian who had just won the gold medal in the Gymnastics floor routine. Since the Olympics originated in ancient Greece in honor of the Greek god Zeus, I love the idea of participation in deference to a higher power, a literal generosity of spirit carrying forward to modern times.
Last week, I had the opportunity to do some romping among the gods myself. Located in Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods has been on my bucket list for some time. The park was donated to the city by Charles Elliott Perkins back in 1909, whose only stipulation was that it remain open to the public and be free of charge. The park was full of families, couples, friends, and even a few rock climbers drawn to the mile high blue sky, the towering, jagged edges, and cool shady corners. A group gathered when someone pointed at a mountain goat nearly camouflaged atop one of the peaks and it felt like we were connected to more than nature. If our wondrous walk through the majestic, red rock formations is any indication, Mr. Perkins' bequest is the ultimate generosity of spirit, bestowing the gift of wonder and awe for generations past and future.
Like Mr. Perkins' gift, generosity of spirit is sometimes in perpetuity, but it can also be contagious. One of our favorite stories occurred in the early days of the pandemic in a Minnesota town that had been particularly hard hit with layoffs. At a Dairy Queen drive-up window, a man paid for the order of the passenger in the car behind him. She, in turn, was delighted and decided she would do the same for the car behind her. This went on for 900 cars and 3 days before the streak was broken. That story motivates me to let the car go ahead in a traffic jam or let the other person go first at the deli counter, not just because it’s a small and easy kindness but also hoping that, always, kindness is catching.
I believe the God of gods gave us the greatest gift in nature’s bounty found in all corners of the globe, and by extension the generosity of spirit that connects us to each other if we are willing. As summer draws to a close, I hope for all of us the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the wonderment of a beautiful sunset or super moon sighting, and maybe ignite a generosity of spirit with a fellow human too. You never know how long the ripples will last. (Katie)