The joy of receiving

March 25, year 2

Dear Dee,
Thank you again for the sermons you send, but in particular, for the one about receiving. I think it's especially gutsy for a minister to say that Jesus didn't get it right when he said it was more blessed to give than to receive. That sermon and the sentiments it expressed had special import for me and what I'm going through at the moment. I had just written to my daughter asking her to get several things done for me. After listing them, I felt guilty making such demands on her time, which is at a premium right now. I told her how frustrating it was for me to be in good health and fully in control of my faculties, and yet be totally helpless and unable to do anything for myself.

I have indeed been feeling guilty about asking for things and worrying about the money people spend on me to send me books and magazines. The sermon gently reminded me that people do these things for me because I still have value in their lives. That's a monumentally important message for me to assimilate, given the fact that I have spent the better part of the last year and a half feeling totally bereft of any worth.

I'm glad that I was able to embrace Unitarian Universalism before I came in here. I lean on it almost daily, particularly the admonition to "honor the inherent worth and dignity of every human being." That isn't an easy feat in here, particularly with those who openly disrespect me because of my age (67) or my charge. It is very easy to slip into feelings of superiority. But I feel good that I am actively working on being a better man than I am.

Thanks for hanging in there with me and for actively helping with my spiritual enlightenment as well as helping to keep me entertained and informed.

Love, Kent