Becoming a
Philanthropist
Becoming our
home grown philanthropic selves
As any
history buff knows, these times we are living in can sometimes seem like
reruns. News reports are filled with stories of wars, disasters, dictators,
attacks on the innocent, increased crime, and the ever present persecution of
Christians in various parts of the world. We’ve witnessed the increased attacks
against Coptic Christians in Egypt, as well as the expulsion of the entire
Christian population from parts of Syria. Political unrest is happening in many
parts of the world, and genocide is being perpetrated upon ethnic groups in
parts of Africa. The number of families found homeless is nearing the
percentages that were found in the Great Depression.
Times like
ours call for us to become spiritually fit so that we can be beacons of light
among those who have lost all hope. The challenges that face all of us are not
for the faint of heart, yet the spiritually fit can triumph over anything, and
we must continue trying to encourage this new generation of young people, and equip
them for whatever may be coming.
We have
before us many challenges, and hardships, and those who have developed a strong
faith must be willing to sharing their faith based strength with those who are
on the edge.
A study of
history can show us that we are not the only people who’ve faced these
problems, and we will not be the last. What is missing, it seems to me, is the
sense of community, of a people who are united to find solutions, and not
simply war with each other. The present political climate in the United States,
with it’s polarization of good people, can not lead to the solutions we need to
turn things around. What is needed is for people of faith to step forward and
help those who have lost homes, jobs, and hope, and offer help in whatever way
we can. Walling ourselves off from those who’ve fallen through the cracks will
not make things better.
During times
like these we must refocus our attention on the things that build up community.
Rather than giving ourselves over to entertainment, or on-line friendships
(which are not always bad), we can involve ourselves in active philanthropic
activities, such as volunteering in soup kitchens, tutoring homeless kids,
manning childcare centers that help parents have the freedom to find jobs, or
perhaps volunteer to be job counselors. We can look in on the elderly lady
living next door, or the young mother whose husband is serving in the military.
We can join others who serve Meals on Wheels programs that make sure the
elderly and shut-ins eat balanced and nutritious meals.
We can
volunteer to teach English as a second language to immigrant families, or drive
seniors to doctor appointments. We can fill the gas tank of a struggling family
at the next pump, or pay for the groceries for the single mother standing
behind us in the checkout line.
When seeing
someone on the bus that is looking lost in worry, we can offer to pray for
them, or even invite them to church with us on Sunday. We can purchase a few
extra hamburgers, with the intention of giving them to the homeless people
asking for spare change at the entrance to the fast food restaurant. We can
offer to sit with a sick relative or neighbor, and let the caregiver have a few
hours to get outside for some much needed leisure time. We an offer to take a
neighbor out to lunch, who we know is going through some difficult times. We
can buy a fistful of
McDonald’s coupons, and give them to anyone who asks for a
handout. The coupons are not that expensive, the person gets several meals out
of them, and when you’re desperate for a meal, it’s a real treat. As we hand
the person the coupons we can ask them to pray for us, so they are able to
preserve their dignity, and feel less like a beggar.
Whatever
struggles we have on our plate will seem like nothing, once we’ve given
ourselves over in service to others. Even when we are struggling to make ends
meet, the power of giving can change our life for the better. By becoming
philanthropists, and focusing on others in need, our own problems will seem
less serious. We can even rally fellow parishioners or neighborhood friends who
feel the same way, and start a project together, and thus help a lot of people
in need.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Δεν υπάρχουν σχόλια:
Δημοσίευση σχολίου