Every year around this time, many of us are sent requests for charity donations. This year I have been drawn to the plight of those less fortunate even more so than usual. And as I have been complaining and crying because I feel so sad about the lack of compassion from so many people—and the downright unconscionable violence against so many throughout our planet, I have had a nagging feeling tugging at me.
This morning in church we had a guest speaker, Dr. Anderson, who leads a huge multi-racial congregation in Columbia, MD. His sermon was about Gracism (that’s Grace with a Big G—because G stands for God and when you put God in front of any problem, he’ll provide a solution). He read from Corinthians—the body of Christ being made up of all human beings—regardless of their race, culture, religion, language, gender, age, height, etc. All of us need each other. Whether you are in a more “powerful” position or you are struggling to survive, all of us need to lift one another up, stand with each other, rejoice with each other, and love one another. We are all parts of the body each with our own unique gifts from God.
And so I thought it was time to put some more action behind my words. I like to give to charity and I probably do the average amount of giving. I’m not completely materialistic but I do enjoy having a few nice things. The other day I was talking to my parents and was getting really upset because of the number of people who are letting fear get in the way of doing what’s right. And because our society is obsessed with some seriously stupid material junk that we waste our money on. I kept thinking—why can’t people set aside buying just some of this junk and instead give that money to people who are without the basic human needs like food, shelter, safety, and dignity. My parents and I then went on to talk about what we might want for Christmas and I felt like a hypocritical jerk.
So I’ve decide to make a pledge. I’m going to call it, “Say Yes to Gracism.” What does this pledge entail? I’m going to say YES to all requests for charity from now until the end of the year. When I say charity, I mean any legitimate organization that uses donations specifically to help people or animals in need. This may open me up to a lot of mail or calls but I’m going to look at that as a positive. It will mean more opportunities to pass along God’s blessings and to hopefully lift up others one dollar at a time. I may not be able to give a lot to everyone but the more I give the more I will be blessed. Not by any material gain or promises of a good life, but rather by the Holy Spirit working in me to make this a better world.
I’m not writing this for any accolades or atta boys or any kind of recognition at all. This is all GOD’s doing. He has blessed me with an inordinate amount of privilege and I’m just giving back what He has given me. I’m writing about this in the hopes that other people will take this pledge with me. One of my gifts is writing this blog. Maybe not a big deal but it’s what I do and I’m using it to try to do good.
What are your talents and gifts, and how will you use them this season? Will you sacrifice one holiday decoration or toy or box of junk food and use that money to give the gift of life? Will you say YES this season? If you want to take this pledge with me, please let me know so we can spread the work of the Holy Spirit and tell others how they can help. Tell me who you are giving to (not the amount) and how you have been blessing others. Tell me what kind of sacrifices you are making and how you are putting the spirit of Gracism in place in your world.
And just in case you might be hesitating because I’m talking about my faith—please don’t let that stop you. Saying YES to Gracism is an act of compassion, love, empathy, and concern for other human beings. You don’t have to be a Christian to do any of that. You just have to say YES and give a little of yourself to help someone else on our planet. Simple as that.
1 Corinthians 12:12-26
Unity and Diversity in the Body
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Masterpiece Fund 