Charity

Giving is a great thing, when we give we feel amazing!

A big part of this is rooted in our motivation for giving. Most of us willingly give to causes or individuals that we feel "deserve" it, or those who truly, "need" it. I put the above in quotation marks because my personal definitions of "deserve" and "need" will no doubt differ from yours, some would say that that new Louis Vuitton bag is a need, others would say drinking water is a need... you get the picture.

As I was saying, the motivation for giving... We are motivated by our perception of requirement. If we believe someone needs something, we are likely to give and to help them. Most of us want to help others, we just differ in our definitions of how best to help and when help is truly needed or desired.

However, there are a few problems with the above. If we don't see that an individual or a group needs help, they often get overlooked. Look at the poorest members of our societies in North America, they are often completely overlooked. We have beggars in the streets, we have children who must skip meals. Even more poignantly, look at those in other countries... Oftentimes, we fail to see need and requirement in our own streets... how could we possibly see it on the other side of the world?

The Persian poet Saadi once wrote,

The children of Adam are limbs of each other

Having been created of one essence.

When the calamity of time afflicts one limb

The other limbs cannot remain at rest.

If you have no sympathy for the troubles of others

You are not worthy to be called by the name of "man".

Charity is a way that we have to express humanity, it is a way in which we can share what we have with other parts of our whole... we are not truly individuals, we are a collective. When one part of the collective feels pain, the entire body should... but it doesn't. Our ability to communicate with each other, to share our pain seems diminished. Nowadays, we have the ability to communicate with almost anyone, anywhere, anytime... however our ABILITY to communicate seems to have vanished. We are able to hold meaningful monologues, we can even dialogue with others... but expressing emotion? Expressing love? These things aren't the same.

Expressing emotions in our society today has become very commercialized... Do you love her? Then buy her a ring or flowers! That's the best way to show it. Are you happy for another? Get them a spa package. Appreciate your mother? Buy her this set of knives.

Charity is becoming the same... I met a woman today who asked for food... but if you truly looked into her eyes, she needed hope.

Don't let charity be a simple handout to make yourself feel better. Don't let the opportunity to give be overshadowed by the benefit you receive. Each of us is a part of a whole, so give and give freely and happily. It is food for the soul.