Question: Recently a relative asked to live with us. The moment we heard from her, I sensed she was to help me with something. Two weeks later we were talking, she started to cry, and said she had had an abortion. Chills swept through me, and my own tears came up over an abortion I had many years ago when I was about her age. I believe this is not a coincidence, but do I just let things unfold on their own?

Answer: Let these things reveal the lessons they bring without reaching to make something happen with the usual mind. Your niece is looking for forgiveness from a pain that she thinks she understands, but doesn’t. And the more you awaken to the truth of yourself, and see, for instance, that for most of our lives we have no idea of what we agree to do (with all of their negative ramifications), let alone how to make these things “right” in our hearts, the more you’ll know how to help this girl, and what you can and can’t do for her.

In the end, the kindest thing we can do for others is to search out, within ourselves, the one true source of kindness, understanding, and compassion, and then be that for one and all.