My One Wish For a Genie

--by drcary, posted Mar 9, 2009

I had a dream. A genie appeared and offered me one wish. I begged: “I want happiness.” The genie answered: "Happiness? You can't give someone happiness. What is happiness for one person is different for someone else. It is relative. I cannot give you happiness, but I can give you what will make you happy. What will make you happy?” the genie asks.

I examined my life and found that the most ecstatic moments of joy, bliss and happiness were when I was helping people. My happiness came from serving others.

So, I said, “Genie, let my life be one of serving people." And so it has come to pass. I became a physician to provide medical care to indigenous peoples worldwide in war and in peace. I held the hands of hopeless people in warring Rwanda, dared to care for the desperate in Angola and the traumatized in the trenches of the Gujarat earthquake. I taught AIDS prevention to missionaries in the highlands of Papua New Guinea, set up a humanitarian project providing care for people infected with HIV in Bombay and secured financial support for an orphanage in Nepal along with construction of a school for the orphaned children to break the cycle of poverty.

One day while walking down a desolate dirt path in the diamond rich region of Angola, I stopped a ragged barefoot boy and asked an important question: “Little boy, can you tell me why God made rich people and poor people?” He answered my question without reflection or hesitation: “Sir, he made the rich people to take care of the poor people and he made the poor people to take care of the rich people.” MMMM

I have a dream. I have a dream that the people of plenty embrace their power and collectively work to empower the people of poverty. I have a dream that the people of poverty embrace their power and collectively work to empower the people of plenty. We are one people, one family. And when I eat I want to be reassured that everyone goes to the table and partakes in the same bountiful feast I so comfortably enjoy. Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and Abraham Lincoln had a dream of the oneness of all people. They moved mountains by their determination and convictions.

And then there is you, equally powerful, equally determined and equally convicted. Who are you? What are you doing? Where are you going? And when will you get there? Living has taught me that the simplest of acts of love bring profound ripples of goodness throughout the planet. Sewing buttons on children’s shirts in barren fields restoring their dignity, showing Guatemalan villagers how to floss their teeth, passing out roses to strangers or saving someone life are random acts of kindness that remind us how sweet it is to care.

A man went to God and asked how he could create such terrible things in this world without creating a solution. And God said, “But I did create a solution: You! What can you do? What will you do? And when will you do it?”

[Dr. Cary is currently in Zambia, helping grandmothers care for their orphaned grandchildren. See his website for the latest.]

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Posted by drcary
Mar 9, 2009
Comments (16)

Readers Comments

petra wrote: You are so right! Living life to the full is about the connection of people. We are the ones making a real difference to each others life, making a difference is the gift we all have. The fun is that we can all go out there and give away our gifts to whoever we choose. When we open our whole being we will know who to give to. It is simple really and we should all stop feeling scared about giving.

Kathy wrote: Dear dr. Cary,
What a wonderful thing for me to read. I've just been laid off and have started on a new journey. I'm going from the corporate world to the non profit.

The words you've written touch my heart. Making me remember the things i done and been given. Things that at times seemed small, but gave so much joy inside. Wouldn't the world be amazing if we all lived your dream.

luv1another wrote: This is a powerful message and i am so glad you shared it with us. Yes if everyone could just realize what a difference we can all make just by caring for others and doing even the smallest things. Thanks so much for sharing this story.

sheila51 wrote: What a saying to remember: he made the rich people to take care of the poor people and the poor to take care of the rich. Wow! :) :) :). And the solution for terrible things: me & you!

God bless you!

Smitha wrote: Hi dr, even my answer to the genie would be the same - 'my happiness came from serving people'. I too have been doing small (very small) little things for this world. I am yet to take big steps in this regard. I hope we all do what we can and to the best of our efforts. Thank you for this post. God bless u with abundent happiness and strength to carry out all the good things that u are doing. -love, smitha

brenda wrote: My dream was to be able to pay off all my bills and stay home and raise my handicapped son,and my 2 grandchildren that lost their father 5 yrs ago. But that has never happened. I am thankful to have waht i do have although they say greed is a nasty one and if i had wealth i would be unhappy. I think some of that may be true but not all of that.

Lula wrote: I agree with brenda, too much wealth may be bad but when you can't afford to pay your bills and not have enough for food for your children you want to have money. When i was growing up i wanted to be like dr. Cary-i was going to save the world, loved mother theresa (i am albanian like her) but life had other plans for me, i have a 7yrs. Old who was diagnosed with cancer at 3 and a half yrs. Old and life is still very hard especially on days like this when you don't have a penny and have to spent spring break at home with bored kids. Maybe our luck will change and i'll be able to help others but right now i feel useless. I applaud dr. Cary and keep doing what you're doing-we need people like you

Amy Fisher wrote: Check out the movie, "shortcut to happiness. "

arjun wrote: This is one of the best stories i have ever read

julie wrote: Brenda: how unfortunate it is that the saying, "time is $$" resonates even louder in reverse: "$$ is time. " $$ often provides us w/the time we so desperately want & need--& would spend doing good, helping those we love, treasuring the angels in our lives. Perhaps the time you're forced to spend @ work is god giving you "down time"--a chance to put your mind on other things (who would ever think of work as a mental respite? ! ) certainly you're grateful for what you have, but it's only human to want the best for your children & grandchildren, which sometimes means wanting more than you currently have. Your little ones are blessed to have you. I don't think you're greedy in the least--you're simply concerned (and most likely frustrated) that your plan hasn't come to pass: that you haven't been able yet to afford the life you'd like to have. And it's not as if it's a life of luxury that you desire! You wish to have a life that enables you to care exclusively for those you love. No, that's not greed. I pray that god reveals himself--and his plan for you, your son, and your grandkids--to you. The most difficult part of believing is having the faith that he'll take care of our needs--please keep looking to him for strength and guidance. And remember, if he tends to the little sparrow, then certainly he'll see that your needs are met--you're infinitely more important to him than the little birds. He wouldn't let someone he loves so much fall.

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