There is so much to write on love and compassion that I decided to do a part two.
My 50th is today but the celebration started on the first and continues until the end of the month. I am feeling the love every day from people around the world. Over the years, I felt the love from the media also and it was fun listening to some of the persons who have interviewed me at a breakfast to celebrate my golden jubilee. I even prepared one of the dishes to show my appreciation for the support for over two decades. Sharing a moment with Leroy Phillips from NCN.
We featured two stories that were submitted from members of the create compelling stories club and this week, we will feature two more.

Alicia Daniels who published a book of poetry on Amazon submitted this story highlighting the quote.

To gain clarity on this profound quote, it’s important for us to highlight some keywords and their meaning.
a) Love – An intense feeling of deep affection
b) Compassion – Sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.
c) Necessities –  The state or fact of being required.
d) Luxuries – A state of great comfort or elegance, especially when involving great expense.
e) Humanity – Human beings collectively
f) Survive – Continue to live or exist, especially in spite of danger or hardship.

The reason why you nor I are the only individuals living on this planet is that we need others to make certain levels of vision possible. Take, for instance, the tower of Babel in the book of Genesis, The Mayan temples or the mission to the moon. In order for this vision bonding to occur, we need the elements of love and compassion. There must be a mutual feeling of affection and concern for the vision and the issue(s) that will be resolved once the vision goes to execution mode. Every member on the team must feel a sense of importance and connection to the vision. Each must realise that every part is integral. In the story of the tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9) the people decided to build a tower to heaven. Though this was short-lived, they were all working towards a common purpose and had an intense desire to make the impossible possible. The Mayan temples stand as testimony of a people’s desire to preserve their heritage for as long as humanly possible. With the expanse and advances in technology, the idea of putting the first man on the moon was pressed out in form. Love has led us to accomplish great feats, but it’s our compassion that leads us further and deeper to making life  better for ourselves and others.
Necessities and luxuries have long been part of the human experience. Many equate necessities to life, a sufficient supply of food, clean air, adequate shelter for both humans and animals, freedom of expression among countless others. Thus the need to develop laws and regulations to safeguard such necessities ensuring that they can be enjoyed fully and equally by each person irrespective of ethnicity, gender, social class, religious beliefs or nationality. In defence of such necessities, many wars were fought and martyrdom became engraved in the human narrative. One such example would be the rebellions that arose in opposition to slavery on various plantations in not only Guyana, but many other places in the world. It is the desire of many not just to survive this life but thrive to the level of moving beyond basic necessities to enjoying the freedom of luxuries only beneficial on this physical plane of life. Luxuries can mean different things to different people. For some, luxuries mean expensive cars, mansions, jewellery, and designer bags. For others, luxury can be having the ability to vote, the choice of who they want to marry, or  influencing millions of people worldwide. Yet for others, their luxuries have paved the way to create improvements in both the physical and social aspects of their environments, hence the birth of many charitable missions and non-profit organisations.
From the Dalai Lama’s perspective, humanity cannot survive without the integral elements of love and compassion. These are considered foundational aspects to any vision or mission. We are all unique and possess qualities that can be effectively deployed to advance both ourselves and others. It’s the love and compassion that will fuel us to create and maintain the good that is necessary for us all to live a full and meaningful life on this earth. Our compassion in acknowledging the plight of others and doing all that is within our power to rectify it is ingrained in our DNA if only we would give life to it. In consideration of the Dalai Lama’s quote we must ask ourselves the question, “have we used our love and compassion enough to make a positive difference in the lives of others?”

Dr Megan Gravesandy who is publishing her first book soon contributed the story below:

Love is a substance. It is an antidote that is often skipped over! It carries a force like no other substance! If we were to activate love in most circumstances, we would bring healing to ourselves and the globe at large.

Love, coupled with compassion, remains undefeated. These might be a necessity to a person but a luxury for another. However, love and compassion still remain within the scope that spells out exemption because these are languages of need. The rich, poor, young, old, sick or healthy equally yearns for the need for love and compassion. You cannot do enough to deserve love or do so little that you are unworthy of it. The amount of love you earn in this world is not an indication of your worth.

So yes, everybody deserves love, so love without expecting anything in return except to feel good. Love and compassion shouldn’t be too expensive on your list that the young kid and poor woman on the street cannot receive from you. Stretch the bowels of your compassion and be affectionate to all and sundry.

There has never been, nor is there currently, a fancy store that sells love. Freely was the love of God poured in our hearts that we would be able to minister effortlessly to the needs of others. There are countless orphans, widows and needy folks dying of hunger and being troubled daily on every side. The resources to communicate care and affection to their need may come with a price but the effort and attitude that makes it happen are not price dependent. A cup of water can make a difference, for it is a need and not a luxury.