My question was always, Where the heck are we all going? My father couldn't quite answer that question, but there's a show on the Biography station called I Survived Beyond and Back, where people with near death experiences report back to the rest of us what it's like to die. It's about the closest thing we have to understanding what's at the end of the train stop.
When I watch the show, I look for trends as clues to the experience of dying. Based on these first hand accounts, it seems that if you die in a rough neighborhood by gunshot, you experience something like a nightmare before you're pulled into the light. Pass on the operating table, and you pretty much skip the nightmare and step into the light. Most people on the show report a life review, then being asked the question, "What have you done for your fellow man?" by either a relative, or what they describe as an angelic being.
Every time I hear that question, it makes me think, What have I done for my fellow man? It's a big question. I wonder if it has to be something big like curing cancer, or can it be something like helping my elderly neighbor move furniture in her house? I suppose it doesn't matter in scope as long as you can pull something out of your back pocket to answer the question on the spot. You don't want to be caught empty handed stepping off the train to see relatives and angels after being away for 80 or so years.
The whole What have you done for your fellow man? question got me to thinking about the financial crisis we've all been through over the past four years or so. There's nothing like a worldwide financial crisis to give us an opportunity to help our fellow man, but have we? I can't tell you how many friends I know who were laid off and went from interview to interview before landing a new job. What is most surprising is how they were treated in the interview process. After 2nd and 3rd rounds of interviews, they did not hear as much as a peep back from the companies they interviewed with--not even the traditional 'No Thank You' letter or a computer generated email. Nothing. I heard from another job hunting friend that she was told by a recruiter that her skills were "stale," because she had been out of work for a year. Stale? That’s mean…and ridiculous.
It makes me wonder what our country has come to when we can't treat our fellow man who is out of work and struggling, with courtesy, respect and a little empathy? Perhaps fear is so prevalent right now that some don't want to look at what could be their own fate down the line. Perhaps that's true in looking at anyone struggling for any reason.
It makes me wonder how these people...behind the phone, behind the desk, behind the emails are going to answer the big question, What have you done for your fellow man? when the opportunity to help is staring them in the face? Perhaps they'll get to see themselves and their bad behavior in their own life review. Perhaps they’ll learn that we're all one. Your fellow man is really you! If you failed at helping your fellow man by treating them with kindness and respect, you failed at helping yourself be a better person.
And then there's our romantic relationship experiences…You might be glad to hear that the man or woman who treated you badly--stood you up, didn't call back when they said they would, cheated on you or lied to you, will have a chance to look at the experience all over again in their life review. How you treat others in romantic relationships reflects how you value yourself in a romantic relationship.
As long as you're not on the train and you're still here and breathing, you can ask, What can I do for my fellow man TODAY? before it's too late, and you show up empty handed to the afterlife party. It's not too late to hire someone who has been out of work, or to babysit for a friend who needs time to herself. How about visiting a nursing home and just spending time in conversation with an elderly person who would welcome you with open arms? I visit my friend Jim in the nursing home and find many others there eager to have visitors stop by for a conversation. For me, the elderly are a source of inspiration and wisdom.
Right now, stop and ask yourself, What can I to do for my fellow man today? If you do something today, you'll have fresh (not stale) material to offer your hosts and hostesses on the other side should you happen to be taking the early train home unexpectedly.
Subscribe to Explore Beyond the Usual™ by Email Right now, stop and ask yourself, What can I to do for my fellow man today? If you do something today, you'll have fresh (not stale) material to offer your hosts and hostesses on the other side should you happen to be taking the early train home unexpectedly.
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Other Blog Posts by R. Ann Rousseau: The Law of Divine Compensation Book Review, I Declare 31 Promises to Speak Over Your Life - Book Review, The Only Thing That Matters Book Review, When You're in the Presence of a Master , Surrender to a Happy Outcome, Robin Rousseau Reviews The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer, Is Your Life Mapped Out? Book Review, Robin Rousseau Reviews The Spiritual Human: A Poetic Guide to Life on Earth by Elise Fee, All Things Are Lessons God Would Have Me Learn Oprah's Super Soul Sunday Discussion, Throw Your Unforgiveness into Stinky Creek, Awakening the Luminous Mind - Book Review, Follow Your Dreams - Interview with Photographer Sharon Seaward, The Gift of Criticism - Does it Belong to You?, The Real Rules of Life Book Review, Tales of Everyday Magic - My Greatest Teacher (My Dad) Movie Review, What Did You Do Tomorrow? A Hay House Radio Show Discussion, Yes! Energy Book Review, Are You a Women’s Libber? Oprah’s Next Chapter with Gloria Steinem Discussion, What is Spirituality? - Oprah's Life Class Tour with Deepak Chopra, I Believe - Book Review, Hay House Radio Show Discussion, Living On Purpose - Oprah's Life Class Tour Discussion, My Titanic Family Legend, Pearls of Wisdom Book Review, Enough Already - The Power of Radical Contentment Book Review, Wishes Fulfilled - Oprah's Super Soul Sunday Discussion with Wayne Dyer, A Facebook Message from a Friend in Spirit, Are You Having a Life Crisis? Do You Know What Integrity Is? Wishes Fulfilled - Mastering the Art of Manifesting Book Review, Authentic Power - Oprah's Super Soul Sunday Discussion, KEM - Sophisticated, Sexy, Soulful and Spiritual, Are You Out of Alignment? Choice Point Book Review, The Middle Lane, Clean Your Mirrors, Three Feet From Gold - Book Review, Do You Need a Most Benevolent Outcome?, We Are All Connected Oprah's Super Soul Sunday Discussion, Release the Anger: Oprah's Super Soul Sunday Discussion, One Big Global Blogging Family, Book Review - Psychic Exploration A Challenge for Science, Hay House Radio's New Show SoundWave A Bit Hit!, Do You Believe in Soul Mates, The Future of Astrology, You Always Had the Power- Oprah's Life Class Discussion, Love Doesn't Hurt - Oprah's Life Class Discussion, The Unconditional Love of Animals-Oprah's Life Class Discussion, Your Life is Whispering to You. Pay Attention. Oprah's Life Class Discussion, The Power of a Second Chance: Oprah's Life Class Discussion, Aging : Oprah's Life Class Discussion, Connecting the Dots- Steve Jobs' Stanford Commencement Speech, The Truth Will Set You Free, Discussion of Oprah's Super Soul Sunday Premiere: The World Beyond, A Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom Moment, Eat Dessert First -The Art of Extreme Self Care, Queen of the Law of Least Effort-Seven Spiritual Laws of Success Book Review, Transforming Fate into Destiny Book Review, Awakening the Lightworker Within Book Review, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane Book Review, Trust Your Gut Book Review, The Spirit Whisperer Book Review, How to Be Inspired Book Review, Infinite Quest Book Review, Biology of Belief Book Review, The Morning Breeze Has Secrets to Tell, The Gentle Way II Book Review, Do You Fear or Respect Mother Nature?, You Can Heal Your Life Movie Review, Impossible Situations are Great Opportunities, Do You Have Enough?, A Wright Brothers Moment! The Sacred Promise Book Review
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