Strangers among us.
I’ve been thinking about the act of giving this week. I’ve been reflecting on how much I give compared to how much I take. After coming home from the World Domination Summit last week, it’s the stories that were told of ample giving that are keeping me up at night. Mostly we hear stories about how people take advantage of one another, but there are also many stories about those who give to one another. I wanted to share a few.
Story 1
Once upon a time there was a man who wanted to help immigrants with the laws of the land. His gentle voice and wise council seemed to draw people toward him from around the globe. He always had a story to tell and a lesson to be learned. He wanted to make a difference and invest in people’s lives. This man is the Executive Director of the Human Rights Initiative of North Texas, a non-profit that represents immigrant victims of human rights abuses. He is a frequent commentator on 90.1 FM, KERA, and writes Law Man Walking for D Magazine’s Front Burner blog. He is a certified Master Naturalist and maintains a blog, primarily about local hiking and art. This man is making a difference in people’s lives.
Story 2
Once upon a time there was a woman with a bright smile, a twinkle in her eye and a star in her house. She loved organic people and she loved organic food. She liked to draw characters and one day, she made a few, from wood, for her daughter to play with. In time, these wooden toys found their way to the top of wedding cakes and the rest is history. She works hard to make people happy every day but especially on their wedding day. She is a oneness blessing giver and my own name has been in her bowl for months. She is genuine and full of Grace.
Story 3
Once upon a time there was a little boy who grew up and ran away to the city and fully rebelled against his parents and his faith. He began working in nightclubs and made a lot of money, fully participating in drugs, alcohol and all kinds of addictive behavior. In time, he found that he was morally and spiritually bankrupt. He began reading theology. He wondered what his life would look like if he served others. He began volunteering as a photo-journalist, on Mercy Ships. His heart was torn open and he began a new journey and eventually founded a charity that you should know about. How about giving up your birthday in order to give people clean water?
While at WDS, I went to a break-out session given by Erick Widman, titled, ” How To Have The Best Year of Your Life By Volunteering and Traveling Overseas”. Erick really opened my eyes to this as a very real possibility. He posted ALL his resources on his blog, under an article of the same name. There are so many possibilities. Some volunteer experiences actually cost money; others are free or low cost. Volunteer-based organizations are all over the planet and are focused on such things as turtle conservation, teaching English or medical help. There are great needs all around us.
This coming week, will you partner with me to explore the question of “what can I give back?” There’s all sorts of needs in the world, close to home and far away. You could invest in something as small as writing a “Thank You” note or as big as serving overseas. No job is too small. You can create your own amazing or you can partner with others. Find your own interests; there is something for you! Do it. Give your life away.
Art Teach Travel 