How About Our Country, Its Called The USA!

I often wonder whether people under stand the concept of giving, or of ‘paying it forward’.

I received a message today via my Facebook inbox about my recent article, and subsequent post in the Facebook group ‘Paying It Forward For Entrepreneurs’ about Sri Lanka!

The title of the message that I received was ‘How About Our Country, Its Called The USA’, and so I have used it on this post so that the writer could recognise it!

When I give to a cause, or to meet a need, I do it a) because I feel a prompt in my heart to do so, and b) without thought of reward or getting anything back as a result of my giving.

Giving can benefit the giver, simply because it takes their eyes off their own needs. In the Bible, Jesus commended the widow for giving a ‘mite’, all that she possessed, in comparison to a rich man who gave his spare change.

Having the power to give, whether it’s money, or food, or spiritual comfort and support, means that I can take my eyes of my own problems and see the big picture, and understand how small my problems look in comparison.

Below is the section of text that from Paying It Forward… that the writer used in his message, followed by his response and my comments on it!

The quote from my post: “A short while ago, I received an invitation and a request from another Facebook friend to help meet a need in Sri Lanka.

This nation, which apart from being torn by civil war, and being in dire poverty, was struck by a severe tsunami some time back, and has yet to recover.

What I learned was that $190.00 US per month will train and support a teacher in that country.”

The response to my post: “How about our own country, its called the USA!!!

Millions and millions of homeless and hurting souls as well as our children who are now exposed to a new form of methamphetamine, what about those hooked on crack or heroin, or our nations worst killers, alcohol and abortion!

Not to mention the mentally challenged. Those bi polar, manic depressive, depressed and broken hearted, lost without a clue.

Here’s the deal, you want to pay it forward? Did Sri Lanka or whatever the damn country help us? HELL NO! Lets help our own first and just maybe we can make a difference. If you want ideas I have lots of them”

My thoughts and comments: Firstly, I recognise the problems of the US, and make the point that they are similar to the problems that we have in my own country, Australia.

In fact, these problems are common to just about all of the nations on earth, to some degree or other, and we need to address them urgently.

The problems that you mention are part of the human condition, and greater minds than ours have tried to find solutions.

Having said that, I’m not looking for a cop out. You say that you have ideas to solve them and that’s great.

In the meantime I suggest that you identify yourself in the group, and discuss the issues and possible solutions, rather than doing it this way.

Sri Lanka was always a poor nation, and the tsunami and civil war there have made the situation even worse.

These are people without the barest essentials, and levels of poverty exist there that we in the west can only imagine if we haven’t seen or experienced it first hand.

When the tsunami struck, it hit a number of countries, and in response your government, as well as mine and almost all the others of the world, immediately responded with assistance.

The response was no different to that of someone who saw his neighbor’s house destroyed, except this was at a government to government level.

The appeal that I have written about is an ongoing project to help people learn to fend for themselves. Nothing more.

The only difference is that this project is a grassroots movement, and one that I feel can achieve a great deal.

Why start in Sri Lanka? Why not in Los Angeles, New York or London?

Why did Mother Theresa start her work in Calcutta? Because that’s where she felt that she was called to work.

Likewise, a group of Buddhist nuns from Thailand are working in Sydney, as it’s where they feel called to work, despite the needs in their home country.

And so it goes on. People work where they feel that they called to work.

I have worked with people who have had drug and alcohol problems. I was part of the management team of an outreach designed to help as many of these people as possible for some time.

This was a not for profit organisation, and my voluntary position involved actually being there in the front line as well as working in the administration area of the outreach.

I still get involved with people who suffer from these problems, and had dinner with a young guy that I’d helped last night.

He’s one of my favourites, and had been a troubled teen with drug and alcohol issues. He’s now recognised as one of the best young diesel mechanics in my area.

I found him a job and helped him to get his apprenticeship. I’ve walked through some rough times with him. He lost his Dad when he was five, and in recent times lost his Mum as well.

He’s now married and has settled down quite well. I told him last night that I felt as proud of him as if he were my own son.

If we all take action and do what we can in the area that we feel called to, we can get great results…

Now, what are you doing to help…?