So the friend who sometimes reads the blog wrong and has been mentioned before emailed last week because she bought a Christmas tree. Initially she said, she was getting it wrong, feeling all guilty and wrong for spending money on a tree. Then she looked around. She saw she was on a family farm. She saw her own family being together and sipping hot chocolate and choosing each other over the Cheapest, Fastest, Easiest. She saw: she had Peopled over Profiting.
She's been Occupied.
Living Occupied isn't about not spending money. It isn't about not being rich. It isn't about feeling guilty for the life we find ourselves living. It isn't about what we do.
It is about Who We Are.
Living Occupied is a life where people take precedence. Where we live mindful of others - of their hearts and their lives. Where we use our influence and affluence, not for a "greater good" but for another's good.
Enough of being greater. Enough of being better. Enough of trying harder. Enough of Me.
My friend got it. She had the moment where seeing that Others were the beneficiaries of her time and effort and yes, even money - that's the point. The wonder of it is of course, that so often another's benefit ends up being our benefit too. But only in that order. It is a lie we tell ourselves when we suggest that acting in our own benefit benefits others. Not in any way that matters. But choosing to consider The Others Too and Maybe Even First?
Therein is our salvation.
Occupied R. Occupied Me.
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