To give is better than to receive

One way to kick start a little serendipity is to ask how you can help someone else. Volunteering to give of your time, talent, and energy can open up new doors of opportunity. But be careful whom you ask to help. There are snakes who will take your good will and use it for their own reward, without paying due respect to your contribution.

I'll have to tell the story of Jim Sheppard the missionary some day. He perhaps mastered the helpful approach only too well.