It’s Fearless Friday and the half-marathon is tomorrow. I have a lot to be afraid about. You may too. But I also have lots to celebrate. Among my blessings are so many of you who have supported, encouraged and prayed for me. Thank you to the moon! Since the half-marathon is about raising money for clean water through World Vision, today I want to share a related fear and some good news.
I’m a first born. A Rule Follower. I hate “getting it wrong”! I get so embarrassed by my mistakes.
When someone dies, I’m scared to death of saying the wrong thing, inadvertently being “that person” who was somehow insensitive or oblivious.
When helping those in need it’s the same. Over the years I’ve found that there are so many ways that well-meaning folks (Read: “me”) can cause more problems than they solve, creating dependency, or taking away dignity, or upsetting the country’s economy or…
Also, poverty is overwhelming. Injustice seems intractable. Often I just want to cover my ears, shut my eyes and yell “Lalalalala…” The problems are so big it’s hard to know where to start. When we do DO something we don’t want to hear it’s the wrong thing! So it was with fear and trepidation that I started reading the book, Toxic Charity recently.
One of the criticisms the author, Robert Lupton levels is at organizations who create dependency instead of equipping and empowering those in need. We need to do with and not just for others.
As I read this terrific book, yes, there were some little things that I hadn’t thought about that I need to change, but there was good news too. Continue reading
