The Courier and the Billionaire


     I often see each day as an opportunity just to keep
the ball of communication and inclusion rolling. I'm glad to
report that when I tell others about this effort, many report
that they see life that way, too.

     Once I was going to write a story about a guy
who got a courier job like the one I have. But this
guy was delivering mysterious packages and envelopes
for an "eccentric" billionaire. The billionaire paid him very well,
his only stipulation being was that the courier discharge his
mission responsibly and with courtesy and cheer.
     At the end of the billionaire's life, the tycoon called
the courier in to see him, and asked him, "Do you
know what you've been delivering all these years?
     The courier says, "No, sir. I've wondered at times,
but you never told me and I simply never asked. I never even
knew whether I was bringing people great fortunes or ruining their
lives. My job was just to get the packages and envelopes to their
destinations and to behave according to your instructions."
     The billionaire said, "Remarkable. You never even looked.Would
you like me to show you what you were delivering?" He picked up a
box from a coffee table in front of him and cut the taped ends.
He pulled out the flaps and pointed the opening toward the courier,
who now saw that the box was empty.
     "Nothing!" said the billionaire, emitting a bellow of laughter from
deep within himself. "All these years I was merely training you to be
loving and cheerful, to spread joy to those you encounter. The
packages themselves were all empty boxes."
     He was silent, beaming at the courier for what the latter felt to be a
long time.
     "You've done your job well," the old man finally went on. "I've kept tabs.
The receptionists and shipping agents you've dealt with report that they
look forward to your deliveries. They enjoy hearing you sing quietly as you
get out of your car. They love the anecdotes you tell sometimes about a
little thing that's happened that day. They love your smile and your laugh, and
especially the fact that you listen to them when they have something to say."
     "Now I'll tell you another secret," the old man leaned closer. "The agents and receptionists were instructed to pass anything you delivered on to a special agent
at each company, one whose position was maintained and whose salary was paid
all these years by me! The heads of these corporations were all personal friends of mine, and they indulged me. These special agents promptly destroyed all boxes and envelopes delivered by you."
     "So you see, my sole purpose in employing you was to train you as a perfect
servant. Your training is complete now. You do not need any more training.
Whatever you decide to do will express the qualities you've developed over all
these years."
    " I believe that I've paid you well enough that you are no longer in financial need
of your job."
    "Yes, sir," said the courier. "To tell you the truth, I did it the past few years just
because it was enjoyable."
    "Well," said the billionaire. "You may do as you wish. My work is finished. Long
ago I vowed to train one person in love and service, and then move on."
     The courier suddenly realized his fortune. He bowed his head and brought his folded hands to his forehead. He could not see, though, if his longtime employer was
smiling or bowing in kind, or indeed if the words "move on" might mean the old man had taken leave of his body right then and there. Too many tears were blurring the courier's vision.

*****

Meeting with Don Stevens

      Yes, believe it or not, today I met Don Stevens. He signed my delivery Manifest 
at about 10 this morning, upon receipt of an envelope at the Sheet Metal Workers', 
something I brought him from an accountant in the suburbs.
     He was a very nice darkskinned black man,obviously not the same Don
Stevens. who wrote Listen, Humanity.I got a DON'T WORRY BE HAPPY card 
from my glove compartment, went back in, told him, " This is what Bobby McFerrin 
saw, that gave him the "Don't Worry, Be Happy" song. A lot of people find the card 
cheerful, so I want to give you one as a little present. There's a man named Don 
Stevens who's very close with the man on the card."
He smiled. Obvously he did find the card cheerful.

         *****

      
Thinking About Roles

     I'm still listening to the book-on-tape Running from Safety, by Richard
Bach, who's better known for his first book,  Jonathon Livingston Seagull.
As I listened today, Bach, as narrator, was trying to explain—in a very beautiful 
way—something like the Divine Theme, to his child-self, who is one of the
 main characters. 
     He talks about life as a Game, and about how if we really always can remember
it's a Game—well, it'll be fun, like any game! And he talks about the
"rules of the game"—how we're infinite beings who basically agree on this
Game-site, Earth, to dispense with most forms of knowing and being that are 
beyond the ones our five senses will corroborate. How if you don't
subscribe to the rules like the linearity of time, and God Knows how many
other things—well, you might get locked up, and a lot of people just aren't
gonna want to play with you.
     Another one of the rules of the game is that we all play various
roles. As Richard tells his child-self , "Dickie", that he's  playing
the role of the wise elder by doing all this explaining, he goes on to  itemize
some of his other life-roles.
      I thought about my own roles and  how I'm very used to some, good at some
tending even to identify with some. I had the thought, "Gee, the roles I've 
played in life have tended to be a bit marginal, the way most people see the social 
order—taxi driver, substitute teacher. 
      I had the passing thought, "I'm used to these roles.  It's almost like I've done 
'em all I can. It would be fun to play some roles that have a little more responsibility
—a little more power— connected with them...if I could handle them, and not identify 
with the role.
     I looked up at that point, to see where I was. In my work life I ride a
frequent shuttle bus from my internal reveries and focus, or attention to
a tape, to the external world in which I am always doing specific finite,
ltasks. I'd forgotten the name of the street and office park that
was my destination. Looking up, I read a green street sign right in front of me:
"Powers Court".

                *****

Relationship Mantra

For a heterosexual male or a gay woman to use, at least. It'll have your relationship all balanced in no time! You just say me; her; me; her; meher, Meher, MEHER..

*****

Baba Dream
     
      I'm taken to the Factory where Baba makes everything! There's a big Assembly Line there, and different shape and size packages are
all being filled with the same pink Substance! It fills them all up from a
little nozzle--trees, people, houses, animals, appliances...
     Baba thinks it's hilarious! He laughs and slaps His thigh. Then He turns
around. When He turns back my way, He's wearing a t-shirt that says

                                         Delivery Guy      

      "I'm the Delivery Guy," Baba gestures with delight on His face. "I deliver everyone and everything to its right place--just the incarnation where conditions are perfect for its further spiritual growth."      He laughs and slaps His thigh some more, like all life was a big joke, which come to think of it, He said it is! He really looked like He was enjoying the Punch Line. 
     I was having a pretty good time with Him, myself!

*****
Tomorrow is another day!