Giving starts with listening
“The greatest gift you ever give is your honest self.” (Fred Rogers)
One of my regulars, Anna, sometimes goes to Mass at Times Square Church. The building used to be a Broadway theater. (See above and below.)
It was founded in 1987 by Pastor David Wilkerson of The Cross and the Switchblade renown. If you don’t know that book or film, I suggest you look them up. It’s an inspirational tale of a small-town Pennsylvania preacher being called to minister to NYC gang members in the 1960s.
I tell you all of this because Anna was recently excited to attend a service at which Nicky Cruz spoke. Nicky was among the original street criminals transformed by the now-deceased Pastor Wilkerson. Cruz (now 85) has written books and preached all over the world.
Many years ago, one of his books inspired a teenage Anna in a big way. So, I just bought her a copy of that book to re-read and create new positive momentum in her life.
This is a big part of my mission. I’m not yet raising enough money to provide long-term and widespread material support. But what I try to do as often as possible is personalize my work so that the vulnerable people I meet can feel how much they matter.
They can feel secure that when I show up, I’ll be bearing gifts designed for their specific circumstances.
Take-home message:
Effective giving is not about what you think someone needs. It’s about finding out what they need and then providing it.
Giving begins with active, compassionate listening.
If you want to help keep my project going and growing, here’s how:
Make a direct donation right here.
Order items from my wishlist here.
Commit to a monthly pledge at Patreon here.
To keep things simple, click here and donate whatever feels right for you!
No matter what, please spread the word by sharing the above links far and wide! Thank you, as always, for your kind and generous support. And if you cross paths with a homeless woman or any vulnerable soul, remember to be friendly and compassionate.
For us who don't lack anything it is sometimes hard to understand that someone who has barely enough for food, can want to go to the cinema or buy a book. Years ago, the mother of the needy family we were Christmas-donating for, asked a cinema ticket. Sometimes a stepping out of the daily slum is probably better than a somptuous meal !
Same theatre that staged the original Jesus Christ Superstar. I still play the album. Vinyl.