Toan Lam, Founder of Go Inspire Go (Photo courtesy GoInspireGo.com)
The other day I had the pleasure of meeting Toan Lam, founder of Go Inspire Go, an organization that is committed to sharing inspiring stories from around the world. Toan is a kindred spirit, someone who believes deeply in showcasing the many ways that people using their personal power can transform the world around them.
I first came across Toan’s work last year when he posted a video about then five-year-old Phoebe Russell and the work she did to raise money to feed hungry San Franciscans. It all started with a simple question about a homeless man that led to a goal to raise $1,000 for the San Francisco Food Bank. At the time of Toan’s original story, Phoebe had exceeded her goal by almost 400%, enough to feed almost 18,000 people!
Serendipitously, the very day I met Toan he had posted an update to her story. It’s gotten better! Phoebe has now raised enough to feed 120,000 people in her community.
Phoebe, now six, is a refreshing reminder that sometimes all it takes is a powerful intention to create change. And from a state of open receptivity, seeming miracles can, and do, occur!
This morning I asked God to help me with people with whom I was experiencing conflict. And I know it’s all about me – how am I going to learn and grow; what lesson is this teaching me; what blessing is this bringing into my life. The word neutralize came to me — I may not agree with what the other person is saying or doing but I can find ways to achieve first and foremost inner peace and neutralize my interactions with the other person. God sent me two messages today – one in daily word http://www.dailyword.com which speaks about harmony and the other in Kate Loving Shenk’s daily prayer blog in which she too spoke about achieving harmony even when there is disagreement. So let us all strive to find the beautiful harmony in our lives. It creates music so much sweeter than ‘discord’. God bless!
Dear Toan – it is wonderful to ‘meet you’. Sumaiya began a 40 day prayer for healing. It’s been amazing what I am discovering about myself and how to create peace and harmony in my own world. This morning I found myself hearing the chants of congressman saying ‘yes we can, yes we can’ after the health care vote. Not everyone was joining in however. Imagine if everyone everywhere set ego aside and opened their hearts and chanted – yes we can — we can make sure that there is abundance of food, medical supplies, health care, housing and that everyone’s basic needs can be met. Yes we can – live in peace and harmony Yes we can love and appreciate one another Yes we can create change in the way things are and create heaven on earth. Amen
Kindred spirit, Thanks for posting and sharing your amazing words of wisdom with the universe! Looking forward to brainstorming ways to continue elevating humanity
Dear Sumaiya – thank you so much for this wonderful reminder about the power of pure intention which we tend to lose as adults. What a beautiful story & great to have you blogging again .:) This weekend challenged me to be still and see beyond the appearances of intense bitterness and divisiveness in Washington. This morning I imagined the power of appreciation – and of course I needed to begin in my own mind and in my own household. I expressed the appreciation I feel for my daughter and husband and took time to express gratitude in my heart for all the blessings in my life. I then imagined each person expressing appreciation for and to the person with whom they experience the deepest sense of conflict. I focused on the people in my life with whom I have experienced separation and felt what I appreciated about them and gave thanks for the opportunity to know them. I also prayed for forgiveness and healing. May this prayer and the meditations from my heart send ripples of healing to our leaders in Washington and to the world. Amen.