5 SEPTEMBER 2021 — BEAUTY? IS IT ON THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE?

Well, I had an experience yesterday which I feel I can call SERENDIPITOUS. This experience happened when I was talking to a homeless man — a guy down on his luck through circumstances beyond his control. I felt much empathy with him and mentally recalled a saying with which I was brought up ‘There but for the grace of God go I’.

Fortunately. as well as listening and empathising with him I was able to help him practically and then he looked at me and said with true meaning in his voice — YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.

I felt that by his saying this he had repaid me a hundredfold as he obviously wasn’t referring to my looks and I realised in that moment that ACTING FROM LOVE CREATES BEAUTY.

His response brought home to me the fact that I was acting from empathy and love and NOT merely from being kind and thereby fostering my ego self.