Greetings!
I anticipate that this message may be a little different than previous ones. That’s OK, though! I have to keep you and myself off balance a little every now and then!
Today, I would like to throw out the importance of "Giving" in the meantimes while living in them! All one has to do is read the newspaper, listen to the radio, turn on the tube or walk down the street to be reminded that we are inundated daily with "mean times" on every front!
- Abused and abandoned children struggle to scrape hope from broken plates of promise.
- Battered women cringe in fear, believing that their lot has been cast — shriveled spirits residing inside bruised and broken shells.
- Once secure families hover near the brink of uncertainty as threats of homelessness pound on their doors.
- Children’s bodies are mercilessly ravaged by the poison of cancer while their families fight to harbor hope in their hearts.
- Service men and women return home from battle with shattered bodies and minds squeezed by the horrors of war while loving families vacillate between hope and despair in their attempts to create a new normal.
- Death, divorce, family relocation, life-threatening illnesses — all take their toll on families on a daily basis erecting obstacles that appear insurmountable.
One lesson that has been driven home to me time and again throughout the years is that we tend to make the most meaningful and lasting connections with others at the point of their pain — not at the point of their victory! I challenge you to name all the people present at your last party. OK now! No cheating by looking at the guest list or the pictures on your computer — and you with the photographic memory. You don’t count!
Seriously, most of us can recall that we had a good time (assuming we did) at our last party; however, most of us might be hard-pressed to recall all of those in attendance. On the other hand, I can almost guarantee that you can name the person or person’s who were with you through your last crisis — those invaluable people who held your hand; cradled your head on their shoulder as you wept; offered realistic words of encouragement; bailed you out of a tight spot; gave you the gift of silent understanding.
I still remember my 10th grade World History teacher (Diana Wilson) who literally saved my life by simply listening to me on a daily basis as I poured out anguish over what was at the time the most devastating event of my life. I am convinced you are thinking about an individual at this very moment who has made an impact on your life as well.
As much as people play a vital part in helping us through our mean times, there are countless organizations out there that serve similar purposes — most of them non-profit organizations born from the tragedy of some individual or family. In this day and time when money is tight, the economy is shaky and the future clouded, these vital organizations suffer as well as they work to meet the needs of hurting people. Often, these lifelines struggle and stretch to maintain viability.
Giving in the meantimes while living in them is one way to perpetuate and nurture our humanity when life appears bent on devouring it. Giving of ourselves — our time; our resources; our energy; our ideas; our love; our encouragement — keeps us connected with that which is truly important.
Living in the meantimes is a given. Giving in the meantimes is optional! Remember the "Random Acts of Kindness" and "Pay It Forward" movements? Those were strictly optional endeavors in which people chose to engage that literally changed lives!
Beginning with this posting, I will periodically list a few websites of organizations that do a truly wonderful job of addressing the needs of humanity. I invite you to visit each site; read each mission statement; absorb each story; apply each lesson — and give from your heart to those around you.
- www.bosplace.org is the site for Bo’s Place, Houston’s oldest and only on-going free-of-charge grief support center for children.
- www.jpkids.org is the site for Jonathan’s Place, an organization in Dallas that takes care of the areas youngest victims of abuse — serving children from age newborn to 17.
- www.thewomenshome.org is the site for The Women’s Home which conducts an 18 month residential program that focuses on building the skills and self-confidence necessary to overcome mental illness and addiction in order to achieve self-sufficient living.
- www.campsweeney.org is the site for Camp Sweeney, one of the largest and most effective diabetes educational facilities in the world.
- www.caringbridge.org is the site for Caring Bridge, a non-profit web service that connects family and friends during a critical illness, treatment or recovery through free personalized websites.
- www.fisherhouse.org is the site for the Fisher House Foundation — an organization that supports America’s Military in their time of need by providing a home away from home enabling family members to be close to a loved one at a most stressful time — hospitalization (most often after returning from war).
Go ahead, log on to one now. If you are so inclined, make a donation of time, money or other resources to the cause. Most importantly, allow yourself to be reminded that the most meaningful connections we make in this life with others is at the point of their pain and struggle, not at the point of their victory. Giving in the meantimes makes living in them much more "doable!" Let’s see what we can give!
Please feel free to share the websites of organizations of which you are aware that stand out as beacons!
Peace!
Mark
Copyright 2008 Mark E. Hundley
