While igniting another soul, the fire lit up for me.
When my dream came true (for another soul)
One good turn deserves more than just another, but two pay-forward.
My dream came true while trying to light the candle of another soul. This off-guard experience played out as a pleasant surprise at the end.
Still on Altruism
Meriam Webster dictionary on my Android defines altruism as,
Unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others.
Behavior by an animal that is not beneficial to or may be harmful to itself but that benefits others of its species.
Altruism has its root in the French word, autrui, which means other people.
There is a never-ending debate on whether humans can or ever be truly altruistic.
Why is this so?
A lingering suspicion exists that people always act in their own self-interests. Yet, this assertion is an oversimplified generalization that has been repeatedly debunked.
Every so often, people facing disasters have no way of helping themselves or others out of their predicaments. When you act in kindness towards them, you are showing altruism.
One of the truest measures of our humanity is sacrificing resources to support others without expecting anything in return.
If a man sees his enemy, will he let him live?
17 Then he said to David: “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil.
18 And you have shown this day how you have dealt well with me; for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me.
19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him get away safely? Therefore may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day
~ Holy Bible: 1 Samuel 24:17–19
One of the best examples of altruism was demonstrated by Lieutenant Friedrich Lengfeld. Langfeld, a German soldier, died while trying to save an injured American soldier trapped in a field of landmines. That was during World War II.
His epitaph bears the message,
No man hath greater love than he who layeth down his life for his enemy.
Altruism is when you support or help those who have no means of repaying you without even expecting any hope of reward.
When my dream came true — for another soul.
Back to my story.
In late October, I caught myself scrolling through one of my numerous WhatsApp groups.
A worthy cause (to an unknown fellow) I ought to be involved in flashed before me. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the means to do what was needed right then.
I’ve gone through that message repeatedly in the previous week. Each time, I muted to myself, “When will the money come so I’ll be able to chip in with my contribution?”
I took another look at that message. Lo-and-behold, my name was on the list.
What?
I have paid up.
My name came up on the list as one of the helpers who have contributed to helping another soul.
True.
But I’ve not yet contributed anything.
Obviously, somebody who knew me, but whom I don’t know, has presciently read my mind from afar and done what I was wishing and dreaming of doing.
Stranger still, when that incident happened, I was in an ever-so-stressful financial liquidity crunch. I had no means and couldn’t have been able to part with the amount deposited anonymously in my name to help some troubled soul.
Some old pal did it (undisclosed) in my name.
Yes, somebody paid the price, and I took all the glory. I still can’t wrap my mind’s hands around it. It’s so overwhelming.
After a few days, some of my creditors paid up. I could now anonymously redeem myself to this group, just as an unknown pal did for me.
In a previous essay, I wrote about how an unknown Polish friend supported me at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unconditionally.
Do you believe in altruism? If not, why not? And if yes, where do you fall on the altruism scale?
Greater love has no one than this than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
~ John 15:13
And no greater love than this that a man should lay down his life for his enemies.
And yet no greater love than this, that a man should anonymously pay the price so his friend can conspicuously take the glory.
Helping others through your actions, whether you’re being selfless or not, may have a positive impact on your life. And that, in pleasantly surprising ways.
Thank you for taking the time to read.
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Another version of this story was originally published by the author on Medium.