…Your Bread upon the Waters

The 2010 NBA All-Star Weekend, at least in part, brought more attention to ailing Haiti and rightfully so as the job in aiding those folks will not soon be complete. There was a song sung in tribute by Erykah Badu and continued gratitude and urging toward generosity by Alonzo Mourning and Dywane Wade.

I’ve stopped counting how much money has been pledged or rendered by private and public citizens because I was struck with an impetus. I started thinking about the kind of giving that would most benefit a people in need. Is it money? It might be because there’s certainly always of lack of it where there’s poverty and desolation. But isn’t money a fuel as opposed to a product readily usable and consumable? I was thinking yesterday, would I rather have the ingredients needed for a meal as I starve to death or the meal, enough ingredients for tonight’s meal and a manual on how to produce the ingredients myself? It goes without saying that the latter is preferable but such a three pronged philanthropy is difficult because of how personal the giving has to become. After all, ain’t nothin’ really unique about giving money is there? It’s the most generic form of giving there is and we’ve almost come to worship it in America urging people to loosen purse strings as the culmination of real compassion.

But take the “love of people” (Phil-Anthropy) a step further. If you were to give from your place of strength what would be the item donated? Would it be water because you work for a purifying plant? Would it be a source of entertainment for a people who, like you, need a break from reality? Or would it be the gift of diffusing volatile and potentially violent situations? I mean, what if the thing you’re good at can’t be sent on a sea vessel and requires your physical presence. Would you go? Would I? Because in my reflection I realized that I’m not a physician. I’m just this guy who people seem to listen to and/or feel comfortable confiding in. I’m a basketball coach but I can exhibit patience when people just want to vent. Check this out. It’s like the whole world is in much more need of “you” than what you own. More and more I’m convinced if we weren’t so embarrassed about who we really are and offered what little we all have to the masses, the restoration of the devastated and brokenhearted might be expedited. Money is raw fuel but “YOU” are a healing salve; at least you are a portion of it. Why is it so hard to part with money only to find that it’s not even necessarily the best offering you possess? I guess that’s why I feel like this is a journal entry and not the last. I’m trying to figure out how to give my money in such a way that allows my “Me” to be given away simultaneously. If you got something on this one, share it homie and let us in your secret so we can tailor our gifts and see the aid all the way through to the hearts of the less fortunate.

Cast your bread upon the waters,
for after many days you will find it again.
2 Give portions to seven, yes to eight,
for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.”
-Ecclesiastes 11:1-2
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Category: Bigger than Me, Character

5 Comments on “…Your Bread upon the Waters”

  1. I think that’s a huge issue to ponder on. Especially in the wake of the last month and all the fund raising going on in the name of Haiti. I am reminded of story I once heard of a man who had a burning passion to help those in Africa. However, due to a physical challenge he was not able to go to Africa. Being a successful businessman, he took the resources he had and teamed with people he could trust. So even though he was confined to the states, he was still able to impact the nation of Africa by using what he had available and putting it the hands of those he trusted and would get the job done. So my toughts on it, if something is tugging on your heart and you can’t physically get there. At a minimum put your money in the hands of an organization that will boot some boots on the ground and make something happen.

    “God is not interested in your ability, as He is in your availabilty.”

    Make your self available and allow Him to open the doors.

  3. I get that but I think everyone begins to say that, including myself. Sooner or later, I want my boots on the ground. When I went to the Philippines and Brazil about 10 years ago I realized that the world is accessible and if you can get somewhere, anywhere there’s a need, even here in the U.S. it’s a rich experience and opportunity that you can’t compare to donating money. I can appreciate those who physically can’t go out of the country. Maybe they can go next door though and offer themselves in some way that breaks up the monotony. It’s a sacrifice for sure because it requires time which is more valuable perhaps than even money. I’m working on this lesson myself and trying to get places I never thought I’d want to impact. I just felt challenged so it turned into a blog post. All in all though, I appreciate what people have done in response to the world’s need. I know that money isn’t the end though…