Talk about tough times … I found myself at a point where I was in deep confusion about my life. Over the past year, it seemed that all my friends had gotten married, received advanced degrees, achieved worldly success and "moved on", while I remained seemingly stuck in time. I had no wife, no job, no career and no hope! My old adversary "depression" had gripped me and I was in need of answers. This was the perfect time to see Swami!

So, in August of 2001, I made my escape to Puttaparthi. One beautiful morning, as I was sitting waiting to see Swami, I happened to see a book resting on top of my neighbor's cushion. I imagine that he had left it there to hold his place while he was away. The book had a very curious title: "Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do!" I became very emotional upon reading this title, because it seemed the perfect answer for me and all of my problems. I was even more surprised when I noticed who the author of the book was - Dr. Robert Schuller, the Christian minister of the famous "Crystal Cathedral" in the United States.

I have always admired Dr. Schuller's books and sermons. In fact, I had read one of his other books, "Life's Not Fair, But God is Good" the same year that I became a devotee of Sai Baba. I found the coincidence far too amazing and I began to weep. Those who have experienced Swami's Love, know well that He finds many subtle ways to send messages to His devotees. I felt that this book was Swami's direct and personal message to me. The rest of my trip was absolutely wonderful and I soon returned home to the U.S. to resume my life.

I was content, but only for a short while. When my birthday rolled around I started to get a case of the "Birthday Blues." Birthdays can mutate into very strange things, as you get older. They start off as joyous celebrations with pointy hats, multi-colored helium balloons, school chums who pat you on the back and elderly relatives who pinch your cheeks till they turn rosy red. I have many vivid memories of whale-shaped ice cream cakes and the excitement of unwrapping a gift to find it was the long-awaited G.I. Joe action figure with the kung fu grip! But these times soon pass. As you get older, you're lucky if you even get a phone call from someone who actually remembered your Birthday. A birthday can become very lonely and introspective. It becomes a day to reflect on what we've accomplished, and almost always, we're dissatisfied with what we see. And furthermore, there is the depressing realization that we are now a little older.

A couple of years ago, I had a profound realization on my birthday and I decided to act on it. I decided that I had spent far too many years receiving gifts and now the time had come for me to give back. I wanted to do something drastic, something adventurous on my birthday. It was time to transform years of selfishness into selflessness. Swami has repeatedly said: "Service to Man is Service to God." So I left my apartment and took the subway into the city. I spent the entire afternoon just walking around and talking to some homeless people. I stopped to ask them how they were doing and asked them if they needed anything. Usually they were just hungry, so I would buy them some food. One man said to me that he had been living on the street so long, and he hadn't been able to brush his teeth. So I went out and bought him a large tube of toothpaste.

The nice people who I had the opportunity to serve were so happy to see me and all so grateful. The looks on their faces were the only present I really needed. It felt absolutely wonderful to be there! It was a very profound experience for me to reach beyond my own selfishness. I knew that even in helping just a few people that day, I was making a difference in the world. It gave me a sense of great joy to know that I was doing what Swami wanted me to do - I knew I was making Swami happy! As a result, I had one of the happiest days of my life and I vowed to do this every year on my birthday.

So this year, when the day came, I knew exactly what I had to do. As I was riding on the subway, heading towards the city, I had a strange flashback to the moment that I saw the book "Tough Times Never Last, Tough People Do." I thought it was odd that I would see that experience flash again in my mind. After all, I was still lost, without a job, and still feeling a little depressed about my life in general. I dismissed the thought and went about my mission of serving the homeless in the city. It was as wonderful an experience as before.

I spotted a man with a long beard rummaging through a dumpster and asked him if he was hungry. I told him I would be happy to buy him something to eat. He smiled and asked me for a sandwich and some coffee. I quickly "took his order" and delivered it back to the man with a smile. "God Bless you!" was his response. I patted him on the shoulder and said "No problem sir! Just doing my duty. You have a good day now." Later, I found a blind man holding out a cup, and asking for spare change. He said he wasn't really hungry but could sure use some coffee. I happily complied and brought him a nice warm cup of coffee and gently placed it into his hands. "Oh thank you!" He said, "God Bless you!" "No problem sir! Just doing my duty. You have a good day now!" I replied as before.

As I was walking back home, I was thinking about all of the worries and frustrations in my own life. I was thinking about how good it felt to forget them all for just a little while and help a few people who were much less fortunate than myself. But I still had to face my own demons sooner or later - I still had to find a way to solve my own problems. I was thinking about God, thinking about Swami and how much I loved Him and needed His help to guide me during this troubled time in my life.

Just then, I heard the loud, grumbling roar of a motorcycle. The sound coming from the roar of the engine sounded like "OM"! The motorcyclist zoomed right up to the intersection in front of me and I saw that he was riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle! I absolutely LOVE Harleys! To me, they represent victory in life and freedom from worry.

The biker sped up to the stop sign and came to a screeching halt. I passed behind him to cross the street and noticed that the biker was wearing a white shirt with some black lettering on it. As I read the message on his shirt I began to tremble. The message on the biker's shirt, "Tough Times Never Last, But Tough People Do!" I couldn't believe it! I almost started to cry, Swami had sent me a message on my birthday, after I had just fed some of His hungry children. He hadn't forgotten me. He knew that I was having problems in my own life and He knew that it was I who now needed to be fed. I learned that day that one must always do his duty no matter what troubles life brings. Take care of others and God will take care of you.