LEAVING OUR MARK ON THIS WORLD...

I was listening recently to a couple of lay members of our community here speak about people in general not being generous when they can do more. Suddenly for some strange reason, I asked them  - "Why are we talking about others? What are each of us doing personally on our part to help those in need - especially for the 3000 members of our own Divine Family cared for by the various Homes of our Divine Charitable Trust? Are we tithing 10 percent ourselves of what we have? If not, we  cannot expect it from others." Well, my comments caused an awkward pin-drop silence around the table and an instant end to the conversation. For a few moments, I wished I had kept my mouth shut especially as the others did not expect me to join in the conversation. I had been quietly concentrating on my dinner. Yet, that is a question each of us have to ask our conscience. "What can I do first?" instead of expecting others to do something.

One thing I have realized is that in this age of instant news coverage on the digital media and newspapers, our senses are becoming numb - and with it our ability to really "feel" for those who are in need. It seems like we are just watching a movie that we can switch off or tune out from our memory by focusing on something else that makes us feel good. It is like we have sensory overload.

I was like that. I would be moved to tears watching some documentaries or news - yet unless there was a very easy way to help or to donate, it will just be in some corner of my  memory of a urgent need by a suffering people. It is not something I would share with friends besides a couple of comments like -  'Did you watch the news last night? Isn't it such a tragedy?" The worst part as I look back is the lack of any constructive action on my part to help a  great human need or even just to pray for God's merciful intervention.  I may have the intention but I never followed through with an action. 

One of my "abilities" since a primary schoolgirl is to organize with other classmates  fundraising events. My primary school years were in a convent school. Certain Christian values were inculcated in us especially to "care for the poor".  We would organize raffles sales around our neighbourhoods, coconut candy sales in school (my Mum often helped us to make these!)  and even organizing concerts at the "princely" rate of 30 cents a student. We planned all the songs, dance and sketch events ourselves with no teachers involved. It was a great feeling of independence to use our own creativity to raise a few hundred dollars! Yet, as I moved on in life, this zeal of "working together" for a worthy cause disappeared. It somehow seemed like the older I grew, the more individualistic I became. It was about my goals, my life and worst of all, always wanting to do good but I would do so only if it was convenient and hassle-free i.e. if someone came to me for a donation or doing so through church appeals. I expected someone to reach out to me BUT I was not willing to make the effort to reach out to others to help support a good cause.

I would read and watch all these documentaries of the starving communities in Africa and the Indian subcontinent,  of abused children and women around the world, of refugees in civil wars and victims of natural disasters. Yet, my conscience was only awakened for the time I was being exposed to it and then it was back to my usual life - expecting  people to help but forgetting  the most pertinent question - "What am I doing?" Now I realize that it is because I was only reacting from my intellect (mind) and not truly from my heart. 

The very first bible passage I read from my newly bought bible when I attended my 1st Divine retreat in 1998 shattered the  "thick glass of indifference" around my heart.  It was from James 2:14 -" My brothers, what good is it for someone to say that he has faith if his actions do not prove it? Can his faith save him?"  This Word of God truly pierced my heart!  I realized I was NOT living my faith. The next line I read was, "So it is with faith: if it is alone  and includes no actions, then it is dead." (James 2:17) From that night before the retreat even started, God had made me truly question my life's existence - "What is the meaning of my life  and what kind of Christian am I?" My life was NEVER the same again. It was the most beautiful moment of God's Grace in my life  - to finally know who Jesus really is to me and of my Christian mission here on earth. Now I know that "Good intentions can never feed the hungry, help the sick or comfort the distressed. One must be moved to act."  Whenever I feel frustrated or cannot understand what is God's Plan for my life, I am somehow always reminded of this special event in my life. It gives me the perseverance to continue doing what God places in my hands for love of Him. Commitment is also an act of love for God.

God gives us the grace to help those in need in many ways. We just need to be responsive from our hearts. God will show us the way. We need to ask God for holy courage to dare to help worthy causes through different ways - financially, through our skills/talents, mobilizing network of friends to support or intercessory prayers. One thing I have learnt serving in this mission is the faith to leave it to God to touch the hearts of those who He has chosen to help. I am never offended when many never reply or ever support any charitable appeal. I do not know - perhaps they are praying for our mission and how blessed we are because of their prayers to God! What matters is I try my best to help a worthy cause when those in need do not have access or "voice" to be heard by those who have plenty.  What is more, for those who have plenty, we need to respond  to the real need and not what we think we want to give. For example, it could be that a financial donation is much more critically needed to care for the life of a needy person than sending clothes. When helping missions, we need to be able to first help care for the "needs" before trying to satisfy the "wants".

Some Friends of Divine with a few of the 600 residents of Divine Care Home 
for the Mentally Ill 

For those who can, do make the effort to experience first hand the needy cause you are helping. When you see the lives your loving support has made a tangible difference, there is a joy that can never be wiped from your heart! Your love has sustained lives so that those who are marginalized or suffering can now have a life of hope and dignity.  I have taken many friends to our various Divine Homes who are moved to tears and weep when they realize how God has blessed their lives abundantly and they have have just taken it for granted. We could easily have been in the shoes of the poor, the sick and the needy crying out to God for someone to help.  

At the top of this post is the touchingly inspiring YouTube music video by Beyonce, "I WAS HERE", sung during the United Nations Humanitarian Day on 19 August 2012. This video makes me thank God for all the millions of unsung heroes - simple, loving ordinary people - who reach out with REAL love to make a GREAT difference to so many sisters and brothers of ours in this world. Each of us belong to God's Family - let there be no barriers of any sort in our hearts to stop us from reaching out!

"He will always make you rich enough to be generous at all times so that many will thank God for your gifts which they receive from us. For this service you perform not only meets the needs of God's people, but also produces an outpouring of gratitude to God."

(2 Corinthians 11-12)