When you think about giving small change, or contributing, what first comes to mind? Do you think; “yes!”, I’ve been looking for this all day? Or is your mind racing with conflict, contradictions and excuse? “Me, oh no, I have to …”
I’ve dropped a bunch of cash into cups and palms over my many years, to simply watch it exchanged for alcohol two blocks further down the street. When you walk past a street person asking for your change, do you feel - as I have - a bit relieved to tell the truth; “sorry I don’t have any cash”.
When the Salvation Army volunteer rings his bell, actually looks you right in the eye, and rings it harder, what thoughts come to mind? “Hey, stop annoying me”?
How about when you’re driving to an appointment and you spot a car with its hood propped open? Are you relieved you’re running late for a meeting and can wizz right by, or do you have to first check if it’s a stranded woman, and then excuse yourself, because you’ll get yourself in trouble when your wife finds out, or do you take on the inconvenience and help anyway?
I wish I knew how other people really think about this topic. Maybe a poll would give me some idea, but my first guess is that most people think about NOT HAVING ENOUGH (time, money, experience) to share. It’s called a scarcity mentality as opposed to abundance mindset.
The result of ‘NOT ENOUGH’ thinking is the habit of NOT giving.
I consider the story of the Good Samaritan (below), and realize the answer to my poll. It starts with the question; “who is my neighbor” and reveals a lot about human nature. It tells us that when people are pressed into a ‘LACK OF TIME’ we tend to ignore the needs of those around us even more.
Scarcity of mind doesn’t stop with money or food, it also devours our time and talent.
I grew up in a home where there never seemed to be enough food on the table for seconds. The first small portion we got completely finished off the pan of Hamburger Helper, and as my step-brother and sister grew, meals turned into a competition to see who could serve themselves first, assuring the biggest serving. You can bet that as an adult I have lots of fresh foods and love to cook. Coincidence? I think it’s an example of how something in our childhood affects us as adults.
Paul Scanlon is a church leader in the UK. His small book on ‘The 15 Revolution’ inspires people to set aside 15 minutes a day to be inconvenienced, in order to help someone else. I agree that if most people were not just ‘open’ to the idea of 15 minutes of inconvenience, but actually took up the opportunities presented to them, that we’d change the world.
I used to believe that the universe was lacking in material resources, and that there was only ‘so much to go around’. I got this from my mealtime experiences. It used to be a blind-spot, but Wayne Dyer pointed it out to me three decades ago. Scarcity used to control my beliefs. As a result, I hardly ever saw an opportunity to help others because I was always thinking about my own needs.
When we are of the mindset that we don’t control the days of our lives, and that we’ll be accountable for the investment of all the days, hours and minutes, then we tend to ‘invest’ with a bit more responsibility.
(See the parable of the Talents below)
Consider the time you spend driving. Are you listening to music, or teaching? I have a friend that commutes over 3 hours a day. I can’t imagine it, but when I asked if he accomplishes anything during his drive-time, he looked at me with a funny bubble over his head and said; “what do you mean? I drive. Isn’t that enough?”
I’ve lived with an inconvenienced life for 31 years. The first 23 were all about me – and they were lost opportunity. Since I began seeing life following my healing from paralysis, I’ve been much more open to believing that coincidences aren’t so coincidental. Those ‘opportunities’ to stop and help are actually the stepping stones to abundance. They are the tests of ‘letting go’ so much more can flow though us. Angelina and I are now able to give almost half of our working lives away, helping other people, instead of chasing after our serving!
Just today, Angelina and I invited a young couple, that were visiting the Gorge, into our home for a visit. They are considering a move to the area, and hadn’t seen any of the available units in our complex. Michael is a helicopter pilot for a medivac service and Nicole is a FEMA consultant. Our hospitality really influenced their decision on moving across the US or not. We shared our experiences living in the little town of Mosier, and warned them of the distractions of having windsurfing in the front yard, and snowboarding in the backyard. We parted with new perspectives and appreciations for our lifestyle and freedoms, and how just 15 minutes a day will change the world.
Now it’s your turn. Get Paul’s book. Change your beliefs about inconveniences, your reactions to contribution, and let’s change the world even more!
The Good Samaritan: Luke 10:25-37
Looking for a loophole, he asked, "And just how would you define 'neighbor'?"
Jesus answered by telling a story. "There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.
A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man's condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I'll pay you on my way back.'
What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?"
The one who treated him kindly," the religion scholar responded.
Jesus said, "Go and do the same."
Parable of the Talents: Matthew 25:14-30; also Luke 19:12-28
14"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15To one he gave five talents[a] of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
19"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'
21"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
22"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'
23"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
24"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'
26"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28" 'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
