Blog 3: Baby Steps in Giving

Doing something….

One of the great quotes of the last century was voiced by noted cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead when she said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Jesus offered these words to his followers, “for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them.”

John F. Kennedy put it this way, “One man can make a difference, every man should try.”

We all know how seemingly insurmountable tasks can lead us to withdraw and keep us from taking actions.   The college professor who looks at a large stack of papers, says, to him/herself that no matter what I do today, there will still be more papers to grade tomorrow and then opts to head to sleep or catch a prerecorded episode of Jeopardy on the DVR.

From the student’s perspective, the term-paper due at the end of the semester seems so challenging, that s/he puts it off until the bitter end, when time for meaningful learning from the exercise is nearly impossible.

A great challenge can motivate us or turn us inward with the expectation that little things don’t really make big differences.   But indeed, little things can.  Students in my public speaking classes this week have noted that sometimes very small things said to them have (at the right moment) made significant changes in their own lives.

Two weeks ago my wife, her sister and I went to New York City’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine, for its annual blessings of the animals service (my son’s high school choir annually sings for this service.)   You haven’t really experienced the full range of worship until you’ve heard the beautiful cacophony of sounds coming from a large pipe organ, a squealing pig, and a relatively muted camel all sharing the same space.  

The annual service is in recognition of the great animal lover of ages ago, St. Francis of Assisi, who put personal giving into a more meaningful perspective.   

“For it is in giving that we receive….”  Most of us learn that lesson the first time giving a gift to someone means more to us that getting something for ourselves.

But of course, giving doesn’t always have an immediate direct payoff as Assisi knew.  There can be discomfort in the process.    Indeed he concludes that it is in “dying that we attain eternal life.”

                                                               ChristianMiracles.com

And perhaps Mahatma Gandi put it the clearest when he said, "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the company of others.”

And what I have found repeatedly is that some of the best parts of life are found when we each are able to lose ourselves in the company of others.    And those life changing moments can, at the time, seem phenomenally minute.  Yet, there’s a chance, a relatively good chance, that those little moments can make a big difference…change someone’s life for the better.   It can take the form of just a little smile.   I ask my classes to smile each day, not just because evidence supports the notion that it will make them happier, but it clearly makes me happy too.   

So every couple of years, I’m willing to make a little fool out of myself and raise a few dollars for a local charity.   It’s never much, but it gets me in the habit of looking outside of myself for just a moment, and thinking of a way that I can make a small difference (in the company of others). 

This year the  bi-annual Run/Walk/Volunteer for Super-Dwight takes place on Halloween morning, Oct. 31^st at the corner of 15^th and Potter Street start.   Here’s a news report (completed by two of our former COMS students, Zach Barlage & Dan Armenti, and of what the event looked like in one of our years.) 

And two years ago, three groups of our CAPSTONE students worked on three different programs for City-Team Ministries, one such program serves poor women and babies in the area.   Here was a film that highlights the program that we will seek to help out this year….

   

So feel free to share us in our joy.  Consider running or walking our 5K with us on our Chester campus on Saturday morning Oct. 31^st .  You can offer to volunteer or walk or run, or just contribute.  (We always have students wiling to run or walk but are not in the position to pay the $15 entry fee.) You can volunteer by simply making posters, helping set up our chalk lines, handing out water cups, or just showing up to cheer us all on.

Please consider joining us Halloween morning at 10 a.m. on the corner of 15^th and Potter Streets or by sending me a $15 donation to support a student who can run or walk but would have a hard time paying the $15 fee.   You can send it via mail or simply drop it by my office at Widener at 220 Freedom Hall.

                  BTW, participants get this a fine Tee-Shirt, with this design:

                    (unfortunately arriving a couple of days after the race)

Giving can be fun….So can smiling. So can taking a walk/run.   

It all starts with one step.

Hope to see you, rain or shine, October 31st at 10 a.m. Prizes are awarded to the first place male, female, and best costume....it is Halloween after all.