The Lady and the Scarf

When do you stop caring enough to stop giving?

For one woman, the answer is never.  And I think that’s a pretty good answer.

After all, giving is simply the end result of love.

A dear friend of mine has been using her talent in what some may consider a dying art to express her love and to help others.

Leena is 96 years old and knits and crochets blankets, hats and scarves.  She shares these wonderful gifts with people she loves and cares about.  My wife and I are the proud recipients of a few pieces of her loving handy work.

Leena was even kind enough to knit a tiny hat and blanket for my great niece who will be born in just a few weeks.  Leena has never met my nephew and his wife, nor was she asked to make these items for them.  She did it because her heart told her to.

Leena  is also an inspiration because she makes these hats, scarves and blankets for total strangers too.

Every day, she works on another hat, blanket or scarf that will bring warmth and comfort to someone.  Once completed, her son delivers them to a homeless person! Yes, she continues to knit for people she doesn’t know, but who are in need of the product of her talent, love and kindness.  These handcrafts not only provide physical warmth, but emotional warmth as well.   

Naturally she is not a high output machine that can churn out thousands or even hundreds of items a day.  However, small the quantities may be, they will certainly make a difference in the lives of those that receive them.

When should we stop giving?  According to Leena’s example…never.

Doesn’t this make you stop, reflect and ask… if Leena can do it then why can’t I?

If Leena has something to contribute then what do I have to contribute?

If Leena is doing this at 96 years of age then what’s holding me back at my age?

It certainly causes me to check myself, take a second look and ask…

…what else can I do?  Who else can I provide shelter, warmth, food, money, or…to? Who else can I spread love to?

Leena humbles me.

Leena makes me think.

Leena makes me proud.

Leena is inspiring!

The Master Craftswoman herself...Leena!

It seems that if one has a desire…a passion…is inspired and their heart is big enough…

They can turn their time, talents and treasures into something that will benefit everyone—regardless of their age.

I think there will always be people who need, from time to time, help from others.

I hope there will be an endless supply of Leenas in the world who will rise to the occasion.  Thank God for Leena and others like her.

If Leena’s story inspired you, I’d love to hear from you.  Or if you know someone who has a unique way of giving, please share it with me.  Just go to my givetolivebook.com website and send me an e-mail.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Could A Simple Music CD Save Your Life?

Having been invited to a friend's beach house in Alabama for New Years meant...

I spent eight hours driving through the night into the wee hours of the morning arriving to my destination at 4:30 a.m., safely.  This, after working a full day, driving home after 7:00 p.m. and of course, packing the car.

So, no sleep for basically 24 hours.

You know how it is...likely you've done a similar thing.  Eight hours of driving in the dark with trucks whizzing by you,through some areas of patchy fog, your eyes growing tired, trying to stay focused...to stay awake.

My two precious cargo passengers (my wife and my mom sleeping most of the time.

Well, of course, you listen to music right?  At least that's what I did.  Naturally, you don't want soft, sleep inducing music either!

Luckily, I had been given a pre-released copy of some great new music created and performed by my friend, Joe Vitale.
 

You've read about Joe before and you may remember that he wrote the bonus book included in my book, Give to Live; The Real Secret to Manifesting Life's Rewards.  (Available free as an e-book at www.givetolivebook.com)

I was fortunate to have this CD, that no one else but the musicians have, in the car for the trip.  The CD is titled Strut.

Strut! by Joe Vitale

You may guess by the name that it is a lively collection of music and it will definitely keep you awake and tapping your foot.  Of course, listening while driving, you may notice yourself accelerating unconsciously and exceeding the speed limit.

While I can't prove that Strut saved my life, it is certainly possible.  Besides the driving benefit the music

is designed to inspire and motivate...to improve your life on a daily basis...potentially also saving your life.

Joe told me he now has CD's available for everyone.  Yes, they have officially been released and are available at the website:  http://getupandstrut.com

Check it out...I know you'll enjoy it.  It's a great way to start the New Year! 

Footprints in the sand

A glorious sunset!

Honoring America's Heroes

Last night's celebration honoring America's Heroes sponsored by my Rotary Club and Operation American Heroes was a wonderful event.  It was the first night of a two night event designed to raise money for our local servicemen returning home with problems and for our first responders. 

You can support them at www.operationamericanheroes.org.  The audience was full of people who believe service above self.   We even had a man who fought at Iwo Jima.

The keynote speaker was retired General William Boykin, former commander of U.S. Army Special Forces and founding member of Delta Force.  He was inspiring.

General Boykin asked all of us who had served in the military to repeat our induction oath.  Part of which is to defend our constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic.  He reminded us that there was no expiration date attached to that contract we voluntarily agreed upon.  He charged us
with continuing to fight and defend our great country.

General Boykin asked everyone to place God first and adhere to our values so that we may continue being blessed and proud to be Americans.  The man was inspiring yet down to earth.  He was humble and honorable.  It was a distinct pleasure to meet him, shake his hand and thank him for his
service to our country and our world.  He signed his new book for Mary and I, "Never Surrender, A Soldier's Journey to the Crossroads of Faith and Freedom".

I look forward to reading it.

Today, remember and honor our servicemen and women.  Lower yourself to one knee and praise God.  Be thankful for our freedoms.  Spread peace and love wherever you go.  But stay vigilant and ready to defend and fight for freedom.

Wishing you a blessed day!
Dr. Rick Barrett

Remembering 911

9/11 ceremony was emotional on so many levels.  I particularly liked Rudy Giuliani reciting Ecclesiastes, 3:1, A Time For Everything.  Solid and true words to reflect on.  Worthy of printing and keeping on the wall at home...

Ecclesiastes 3

A Time for Everything

¹ There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
² a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

I just watched Boatlift, An Untold Tale of 9/11 Resilience on CNN narrated by Tom Hanks.  You must see this, it's inspiring.  500,000 people rescued by boat from Manhattan in less than 9 hours!  This represents who we are, and what we will and can do for each other!

Pray for peace, live in peace, live a life of love, but stay vigilent!

Blessings,
Dr. Rick Barrett

This year's destination...Peru!

Our Austin based multidisciplinary team will be serving the impoverished people in Callao, Peru. We will be there from September 26 to October 6th.

Though I've participated in roughly thirty medical missions, I'm just as excited about this one as I was my first.

I look forward to catching up with my Peruvian friend, Ruth, who lives in Lima and works as a translator. She is going to join us and bless us with her translation skills.

We may also have help from the sister of Winston. (I told you he is going to walk 5,000 miles across South East Asia.  Check out http://smiletrek.org) She is currently attending school in Lima.  It's miraculous how people's lives cross and connect when giving and serving others in need.

While in Peru, I hope to keep you updated with photos and...if I can figure it out...a video posted to YouTube.

I know many people like to donate clothing, and medical supplies like crutches and wheelchairs. Unfortunately, it's difficult to travel that far with those types of supplies.

You can send me monetary donations if you like or donate at http://www.austincatholicmedicalmission.org. Any other donations, I can give to my other team traveling to Eagle Pass on the Mexican border in November.

As always, any donations are appreciated but please keep our entire team and our work in your prayers. I'll communicate more later.

Thanks and Dios Le Bendiga! (God Bless You!)

Navajo Serenade

Monument Valley, Utah is a place of haunting other worldly landscapes.  It's staggering lithic monuments rise above the desert floor to kiss the sky.  I fell in love with this magical place some twenty-five years ago, though I'd seen it many times before in movies.  Of course, it's very recognizable.  It's been the backdrop for many John Wayne movies. 

This trip Mary and I were fortunate to get a special tour from a Navajo brother and sister team, Jessica and Quanah.  They showed us places I had never been before.  Places where they played as children and are very special to the Navajo.  They shared stories of their culture and about the land the ancient ones, the Anasazi, once called home.

Touring us through the beautiful desert amongst majestic rock formations, our young guides showed us pictographs and petroglyphs and then took us to a rock formation they say represents a Hogan.

There Jessica instructed us to rest and lie down on the cool, smooth sloped rock base of a formation that made up a natural amphitheater.  I wasn't quite prepared for what came next.

Quanah began to play a Navajo flute whose sound was amplified and enriched by the rock formations.  I wasn't, as I said, prepared.  I hurriedly took out my video camera to capture part of that unique moment.  Then Jessica serenaded us with a touching Navajo song.  It was a beautiful gift, befitting the surroundings and adding to the treasured experience in this magnificent Valley of Monuments.

I'd like to share a piece of what we experienced.  I encourage everyone to visit this Natural Wonder of the World that the Navajo people graciously allow us to be a part of.  If you go, look up Quanah and Jessica.  They work for their parents at Majestic Monument Valley Touring Company.  Check them out...you'll be glad you did!  They will tell you "ya'at'eeh" (hello), welcome to Monument Valley, Tse'Bii'Ndzisgaii, (Valley of the Rocks)!

Would You Walk 5,000 Miles...

...for people you don't know...

In foreign lands...

To give them hope...

Improve their self worth...

And correct disfiguring physical deformities?

I know someone who is about to do just that!

Please watch this very important video!