40 Days of Giving: An Experiment in Charity
Giving has a long history. In fact, giving is a central theme in many cultures. It features prominently in all three Abrahamic religions, and also among the mythologies of the ancient and new world.
In the Bible, the Earth is given over as a gift to mankind (except for a couple of trees), and human suffering is a result of taking more than was offered. The first murder is over the gifts given by Caine and Abel. Upon liberation from Egyptian slavery, God mandates a gift of the firstborn children (and cattle) from his chosen people. The Bible (both Old and New Testaments) assert numerous times that generosity will be rewarded. Zakat, or alms-giving, is one of the five pillars of Islam, and sadaqah (generous giving beyond the required 2.5%) is also encouraged as a means of gaining further divine favor.
Among the Greeks, it was believed that the knowledge possessed by humanity was a gift, for which Prometheus was continually punished by the other gods. According to Homer, the Trojan War began over a dispute over who was the proper recipient of a gift (the golden apple - "To the Fairest"). Native American tales are replete with gift-giving, often tied into the cycles of nature.
Even this brief overview makes it clear that the giving of gifts has a long and varied story woven throughout the narrative of human culture.
But until about two years ago, this story of giving had little influence on my own life. It wasn't that I never gave to charities, but it was that giving wasn't a regular part of my life. I occasionally dropped some money into a Salvation Army bucket at Christmas, or gave money when a charity called me, but that was it.
In the last couple of years, that's changed a lot. I now give money regularly to charities, and I feel (sometimes against all reason) as if rewards are coming into my life because of it, but ... is that enough? Why has giving become so important in history? Is there a way to put giving to the test, and see what happens when someone embraces giving as the central theme of their life?
These were the questions I began asking myself, and the answer I came up with is one that comes fairly naturally to someone who thinks logically and scientifically:
Test the hypothesis.
For 40 days, from February 17 through March 28, I will give away every cent of money that I earn. I will read about and study giving, across various cultures and religions, and try to find out what others have felt about it. I'll share my thoughts and record my experiences, and if any strange coincidences come up, those too will be documented
In this age, where ancient tales no longer guide us as they once did, it's incumbent upon us to individually explore the world to find out on our own how to behave morally. I think that giving is a good place to start.
My hope is that, by the end of it all, I'll have woven my own story into the narrative of human culture and, just maybe, convinced some other people to look into this whole "giving" thing.
Intrigued? Well, you can take part. Followers of this blog will have the opportunity to provide suggestions for gifts, offer their own stories, and maybe even receive some gifts of their own. More announcements along these lines will come in the following month, leading up to the start of the project on February 17.
I look forward to it. Are you?
Well Andrew, I admit this is one I would have never considered. It is my prayer that God has granted you the resources (outside of your intended giving) to keep the lights on and bills paid and all the other minutia of day-to-day living. I'll look forward to reading of your adventures!
ReplyDelete-RS
hrmm..
ReplyDeleteFirst things first - I recommend a book called "The Trick to Money is Having Some" Which is several things, but also talks about attitudes towards wealth, the mindset of holding desperately to the money you have for the sake of having it, and synchronicity as well. Very interesting book, maybe I can dig it up and put a few quotes in here.
Also I'd recommend looking up Burning Man and the philosophy of the gift economy. (some references to that on wiki, your browser doens't allow me to copy/paste.
Okay, apparently I can do it if I establish my credentials. yay!
ReplyDelete"Jefferies talks about the law of natural increase. This describes the propensity of living things to reproduce themselves at exponential rates. "There is no 'enough' in nature," he says. "It is one vase prodigality. It is a feast. There is no economy, no saving, no penury, a golden shower of good things forever descending." Contrast this with the material economy of our world, in which each individual is compelled, in order to exist, to labor, to save and to compete with other people for control and possession of scarce resources. This is the iron law of economics in our world: the suberabundance of nature and the utter niggardliness of man."
http://www.burningman.com/whatisburningman/lectures/viva.html
I did a project on this (specifically, giving to alleviate hunger) last semester, Andrew, and it really touched me to devote so much brainspace to this idea. I hope it does this for you and your family too.
ReplyDeleteI signed up on
http://www.thelifeyoucansave.com/
and have been giving 5% of my income ever since. Even though I am a single mom living well below the poverty level, it has not hurt me at all and, as I said before, I think it has really made my life better.
I give the 5% to help those who are hungry (http://www.childrensaidsociety.org/
has a consistently high rating on Charity Nav) and I also give to the AFSC 'cause I'm Quaker like that.
I agree with X's experience: if you are willing to give, you will not lack.
I look forward to reading about this. It's very inspiring! Thanks.
“Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ’Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ’Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?’ And the king will answer them, ’Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of my brethren, you did it to me.’
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