The Second Epiphany: Charity
I couldn’t tell you why I was even looking, but I came across the dictionary definition of Charity the other day and noticed that the etymology includes the Late Latin (whatever that is) caritat –, caritas, meaning Christian love. (if the writers of the entry in question are to be believed)
Suddenly (don’t judge, I’ve been busy thinking about other things up until now) the whole “Faith, Hope and Charity”1 thing made much more sense.
Yes, yes, I know that I’m probably well behind the curve on this most un-earth-shattering revelation, but to me, charity had always meant something akin to alms giving or organized, non-profit type things.
It never occurred to me that in the Christian sense, charity and love were fungible commodities.
I blame the King James Version and the Illinois Public School system for this gross miscarriage of linguistic justice!
* * * * *
I’ve never done much of anything in the way of volunteer work. I was Santa one year for an animal shelter. People brought their dog or cat (or whatever, but mostly dogs or cats) to the local PetsMart and for a donation had a photo of the animal with Santa Claus. That pretty much covers my philanthropic experience.
I think I WOULD do more volunteer work, but there’s no cause that I feel passionate about.
I liked working with the doggies. That was kind of fun, but mostly pointless. And I always think that if I were going to be giving my time to something, while I love dogs, people should probably take precedence.
And of people, I would think that children are the least able to help themselves, but I imagine most people think that and I would bet that there’s a significantly larger proportion of volunteers for children’s causes than there are for other causes. Purely conjecture, mind you.
So, then I’m left with adult humans. I don’t really buy into the (insert disease, disorder or disability) cure thing. Anything done for such organizations is to fund research which doesn’t help anybody except the researchers (assuming that no cures will be forthcoming soon).
I’m open to suggestions.
1. 1. “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
7 animadversions:
you've never read Corinthians 13?!?!?!
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
"Love never fails....And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
. . .or Mel's fairies, for that matter. . .
today: "Think of how good it feels when someone is kind to you.
Make it your goal to pass that feeling along to others every chance you get. Give kindness and something amazing happens.
Your own strength, confidence and joy will increase. Add some kindness to your world today.
And see the positive benefits as it continues to grow beyond you."
or the other day: "It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do a little. Do what you can."
or, on the other other day's hand:
"Wait. If the time is not right, the way is not clear, the answer or decision not consistent, wait.
"We may feel a sense of urgency. We may want to resolve the issue by doing something - anything now, but that action is not in our best interest.
"Living with confusion or unsolved problems is difficult. It is easier to resolve things. But making a decision too soon, doing something before it's time, means we may have to go back and redo it.
"If the time is not right, wait. If the way is not clear, do not plunge forward. If the answer or decision feels muddy, wait."
(-:
I used to help distribute charity envelopes thru letterboxes, during charity weeks - then go back later and collect them/donations. . .
. . .the first year I did it it seemed cringingly embarassing, but then I got over that and really enjoyed meeting people - the most incredibly ordinary, seemingly hostile people were soooo generous
it really opened my eyes
(I once shook tins outside a busy commuters' railway station in the City. . . that was very different)
when living in The Village, I used to go sing carols at the old people's day centre xmas party (while the turkey was cooking at home)
yadda yadda
one of my oldest friends used to do a show on the local hospital radio
but, less me me me. .
let me know how you get on - I've been thinking of this for a while now, and (like every other pursuit I've been thinking of for a while now) just need to kick up the jacksy to get me going!!
X
"It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do a little. Do what you can."
Frankly, the error in thinking is that 'everyone thinks charitable when it comes to children'--yaknow......I have several children who need someone to just visit them. I have one who'd love to learn to make better music on her guitar if only she had a teacher/mentor.
Just sayin'...
Anything done with great love is a great thing--for everyone...the giver and the receiver.
Need us to light the candle under you? :-/
<-- has matches somewhere!
Can we have more epiphanies?! I like 'em muchly!!
I can't promise 'em with any regularity as they occur when the want to, but when they do, I'll post 'em!
Ironically: wordver = TRYTO
View: Of COURSE I've read it (and it's neigh-mandatory for weddings around these parts.
But the KJV quotes it as I have shown at the bottom of my post (which for some reason was hidden when you left your comment).
fungible! What a brilliant word!
I've never been much of a volunteer myself, and to be truthful, I have no good excuses for it. I have enough trouble being good to my nearest and dearest sometimes! Not to mention the dog and the cat and the birds.
No hope for me : )
What about volunteering at a community group centre or program? We have a great commnity food box program that has community gardens you can work in put together food boxes for. Personally, I'd suggest the Big Brother program or visiting people in palliative care.
Some people don't have anyone at all to talk to or hang out with and jsut being there for them can make a huGe difference.
My mom was a palliative care nurse and it made someone's week when they got a visitor. They didn't really mind who - just someone to talk with them and visit a bit. I am shy, so I just pushed the book cart around and chatted with thema bit and tried to suggest a book or two. Sometimes I'd play cards with them in the games room or sing along wiht them at the piano.
I have to say - as a researcher who has some of her projects funded by charities, I do beg to differ that noone benefits from the charity work besides us. It's critical to what we do and the people we help...we need charitable funding to keep the greedy corporate bastards out of research and keep it ethical and really help people and not just make things for profit. Otherwise it all comes down to money and not cures.
In my mind, volunteering in any way is a good thing...just a thought...
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