Tea and Sympathy

tea

–noun

1.	the dried and prepared leaves of a shrub, Camellia sinensis, from which a somewhat bitter, aromatic beverage is prepared by infusion in hot water.

2.	the shrub itself, extensively cultivated in China, Japan, India, etc., and having fragrant white flowers. Compare tea family.

3.	the beverage so prepared, served hot or iced.

4.	any kind of leaves, flowers, etc., so used, or any plant yielding them.

5.	any of various infusions prepared from the leaves, flowers, etc., of other plants, and used as beverages or medicines.

Earlier this week, I was privileged to be included in a special tea being presented by the Muslim Women of Chico to honor Greg Mortenson on his visit to Chico State University. This author of of "Three Cups of Tea" has created such a following, such immense popularity that his lecture tonight was sold out and broadcast to a full house in two rooms only showing him on a simulcast video. And for these Muslim women, he is of deific proportions because of the changes he has inspired in Pakistan and Afghanistan for women.

Mr. Mortenson is a very humble man who clearly was just following his bliss and divine impulsion to make a difference--and he indeed has. I was so touched by the genuine admiration in that room and the humble and heartfelt emotions of the women hosting him for this event. In addition, I learned some interesting facts about a country and a religion that I know so little about.

This event afforded me the opportunity to be on campus again at CSU. I so appreciate being there amid the hubub of students, bricks and knowledge. And a quick side-trip into the BMU bookstore to ogle a new 20" iMac was not lost on me either.

Today, when I got home from my work-related travels, I noted in passing that I had gone 11.1 miles. No surprise there.

And in a perfect moment of synchrodippity, I had turned on the television that night and was wending my way through the channels when I landed on the local news covering the Mortenson event. I stopped to listen of course. And of course, right after that vignette came on the local news coverage of our very own Shelly Andrews ( beloved church member) who was interviewed about her battle (?) with Blue Shield to approve her recent laser surgery to eradicate cancerous lesions in her brain. There was Shelly telling her story about her health challenges and how her nearest and dearest friends personally bankrolled the over $60,000 hospital procedure that Blue Shield was denying. Rev. Karen Kahn was also interviewed and shared how friends are rallying to help Shelly out donating time and money for Shelly, a single-mom with two teenage children.

(nb: If you are interested in learning more about Shelly's experience, you can visit the website Rev.Karen set up for people to access for updated information:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/shellyandrewsbuta

Of course, when news of Shelly's situation was made public and reached our own church community, members began to give of their time, treasure and talents in being of support to Shelly and her family. It is an awesome and humbling experience in which to be a part and to witness how big the human heart can be.

The far reaching effects of the human spirit continues to amaze me. Whether it is someone like Mr. Mortenson who stumbles into an activity of compassion that changes peoples minds (and hence, the global perspective); or the career turn around of Denise Cerreta who founded the One World Everybody Eats pay what you want restaurant in Salt Lake City, Utah because she knew there had to be a better way to feed the world; or that of a local social worker who has dedicated her life and work to help others, is now letting herself be helped by friends and co-workers--it is all about the compassion of the soul that knows no limits.

sym⋅pa⋅thy

adjective –noun

1.	harmony of or agreement in feeling, as between persons or on the part of one person with respect to another.

2.	the harmony of feeling naturally existing between persons of like tastes or opinion or of congenial dispositions.

3.	the fact or power of sharing the feelings of another, esp. in sorrow or trouble; fellow feeling, compassion, or commiseration.