Through a wider lens

“You are cared for by the universe beyond that which you can measure or understand right now.”—Regina Dawn Akers

Salaam Shabbi!

That may not be spelled right, but that’s what we’re saying these days in Lawrence, Kansas as we host the Algerian World Cup team. Between non-stop street parties, our marching band learning the Algerian national anthem and our quaint little downtown festooning itself in green and red, we’ve managed to create quite a stir. Stan Herd, our local crop artist, even created a ½-acre Algerian flag.

So in honor of last night’s victory of Les Fennecs (our newly-adopted team), I thought I’d take a moment to share with you, my beloved readers, a couple stories that defy the typical fear nonsense kicked up by our crazy egos.

For example, our culture seems to think making a profit should always take precedence, that creating capital is the end-all-be all.

As of last February, a café in Minneapolis has turned that restrictive system on its head. The owner of Post Modern Times decided it would no longer operate as a profit-based business. From that point on, it became a free and donation-based restaurant. While some 40 percent of its patrons don’t donate, the economic equality created with this new model has caused the restaurant to thrive, well beyond its previous levels.

In France, a group of businesses are opening their offices to homeless people in the evenings when they’re not using them. Called the Bureaux du Coeur (“Offices of the Heart”), the non-profit was started by business leaders who believe economic activity should serve society. What a concept!

Together with social service agencies, the now-national movement is consistently described as life-changing. Not only do participants find a sense of belonging (they often stay for coffee when the staff arrives), but old stereotypes about homelessness have been blown to smithereens.

Speaking of stereotypes, I also loved the story about a prison in Washington whose inmates are now rehabilitating endangered butterflies.

So I’ll sign off today with this question: “What beliefs do you have that might be restricting new possibilities?”

Happy Tuesday!

#222 Forever!

Pam Grout is the author of 22 books including E-Squared, Thank & Grow Rich , The Course in Miracles Experiment: A Starter Kit for Rewiring Your Mind (And Therefore Your World)and her latest, The Ego’s Playbook.