please give

You step out of the drugstore after picking up a bottle of water and some fresh batteries and notice a woman sitting on the sidewalk with two small children and a sign that reads "Help us.  Give whatever you can spare.  God bless."  You exit the BART station and a man with an outstretched hand asks if you can spare any change.  The cashier at the grocery store, before hitting the total key, asks if you would like to donate to a charity they are collecting for.  It seems like everywhere you go, someone is saying "Please give."

How many of us are just barely making ends meet ourselves?  How many of us wonder if we will someday have an outstretched hand asking for spare change?

Hardly a day goes by though that something amazing happens right in from of me.  I see people who don't even have two nickels to rub together, being more generous that those living in large houses with big bank accounts.  People, even poor people, find ways to give.  It isn't just money.  I have two apples and you have none, so I'll give you one of mine.  That kind of thing makes me smile.  The generosity of the human spirit is really quite remarkable.  I man with a paper cup who often is asking for spare change near where I work, has on several occasions bought food for a homeless woman in the neighborhood from the meager collection in his cup.  I had thought they knew each other the first time I saw it happen - then I saw her reaction and her tears.  That had apparently been their first meeting.  It was a moving experience for me.

Last night I ate in a restaurant.  I was dining alone and ordered more than I should have.  When it came time to pay I realized I had no cash at all and was happy that credit cards were welcome.  Outside with my leftovers minutes later, I was glad that I had ordered too much food.  I had something in my hands to give to that man whom I had witnessed bringing food to that woman.  Last night it was his turn to eat.

The answer is YES

Can I change the world? Someone actually questioned me about that. After reading this blog for a while, they sent me an email asking, "do you really think you can change the world?"

The answer of course is YES! I can and you can and all of us can if we get involved and if we do something and if we simply TRY to make a difference. Will sitting alone in a room and moaning about the things we don't like change anything? Probably not.

This blog does not give you all of the answers. I certainly don't have all of the answers. Nobody has all the answers. I never have pretended that to be the case. I don't think I am the authority on change or involvement or making a difference - I am just one voice. I do hope you will join me though. Some 6,000 people have already joined Josh in his efforts to help Thomas proving that together we can do so much more! (If you have no idea what that last sentence meant, you have been reading this recently.  Just click HERE and you can read the whole story and also donate if you wish).

I would love to hear your comments too. Occasionally I get an email, but you can comment right here too so that other readers can easily read your thoughts (and you can even do so anonymously). Changing the world for the better is something all of us should be interested in doing! Join us!

Sharing the food

The other day someone who reads these words send me a message saying I seemed to have all the answers. Goodness no! I don't think anyone has all the answers, but if we listen to others and keep our eyes open, a lot of those answers will become very obvious. Downtown yesterday I saw a number of people arriving at their church for worship. I noticed that they all seemed to be carrying something too - food. Some folks had big boxes of cereal and other had those multi-packs of instant noodles and some had bags that seems to have cans in them (tuna perhaps, or soup, or maybe vegetables). Now I don't know how often they do this, but even if it is just occasionally, what a great idea! Here's something anyone can participate in.

Yesterday afternoon while I was in the supermarket, I took note of some of the sale prices of food. Amazingly I found soup for a dollar or less and canned tuna was just sixty-nine cents! Outside the store I saw a vending machine that had canned beverages for thirty-five cents. For five dollars, I could buy a soda, five cans or tuna, and a can of soup, and still have money left. So I did it. Most of us can afford five bucks every now and then, and look how much food you can get. There are of course many other options, but that's just one example.

There is a small boutique in my old San Francisco neighborhood that did food drives occasionally and, to encourage participation, they gave discounts on their merchandise to folks who brought in canned goods. It was a win-win situation, and just about everyone put some cans in the barrel. People who didn't know ahead of time, would run across the street at a Walgreens store and pickup some sliced peaches or chicken broth or maybe a can of beef stew or chili. Such a simple act that makes such a big difference!

Here is one answer to hunger. The other day the US Postal Service did a collection. The church here in Kingman that I mentioned does it and that clothing store back in San Francisco, and they aren't the only places. We can even start some new collection programs where we live, if ones don't already exist. Perhaps you have some other suggestions. You are more than welcome to share them in the comments below.

Making a Difference One Cupcake at a Time

Writing this blog for over ten years, I have come across a lot of wonderful giving people, but when I heard about Jennifer Clark, the owner of Jen's Sweet Treats, I cried.  I have not met this woman, but from all accounts, she could easily be the posterperson for this blog.

 

There was a news story on Columbus, Ohio tv station WCMH4 about the community coming together to give a van to a local business owner and that business owner being moved to tears.  Good story, but there had to be more.  I did some checking and found that a LOT has been written about this businesswoman.

 

Some of what I found told about the delicious baked goods that Jennifer Clark creates and some was about the family history.  (Her father and mother had been bakers and her daughter has also joined in the business).  Almost every story I read and every review I saw for her bakery also praised her community involvement and her giving back.  She has raised money for the Wisconsin Humane Society, the families of fallen police officers, local youth sports, supported local firefighters, gave gifts to pediatric patients, and more. No wonder they wanted to give her that van!

 

On her facebook page, Jen gave thanks for the generous gift and said "Thanks to all of you my mission of 'Making a Difference One Cupcake at a Time' can continue!"  I simply have to meet this woman some day (and sample some of her treats too)!

we need to make true equality a reality

Read these words from The Declaration of Independence, signed on July 4, 1776: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

It’s only January right now, so we cannot possibly be celebrating Independence Day yet, but there is never a bad time for this reminder. ALL ARE CREATED EQUAL. ALL. Every single person. There is not one who was created to stand above the rest. We all should have the same rights and nothing less is ever fair.

Hispanics are equal. Asians are equal. African-Americans are equal. Lesbians are equal. Gay men are equal. Transgender persons are equal. People of advanced years are equal. People who practice different religions are equal. People who practice no religion are equal.  All are equal.

Let’s get to work and make true equality a reality. We can begin with the workplace or with marriage or with any number of things where discrimination still exists.

Tyler inspired

"His life May have been short, but his legacy with be forever."  Those words came yesterday from the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research as they announced the sad news that 20-year-old Tyler Trent had lost his battle with a rare form of bone cancer.

 

To say that Tyler inspired is really an understatement.  Instead of feeling sorry for himself, he stayed positive and thought more about helping others.  His story has drawn more attention to cancer research, and that is certainly a good thing.  Last month, Tyler received Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award which is given annually to college football's most inspirational individual or team. 

 

He beat the cancer, but it came back.  That didn't cause him to give up though. You will likely be hearing a lot more about this young man, but his own words best explain his attitude:  "Though I am in hospice care and have to wake up every morning knowing that the day might be my last, I still have a choice to make: to make that day the best it can be. To make the most of whomever comes to visit, texts, tweets or calls me."  His 260 page autobiography, The Upset, became available by pre-order, just days before he passed away.

 

Rest in peace Tyler Trent and thanks for the courage that so inspired us.

Welcome 2019

Welcome to 2019, a brand new year filled with brand new opportunities.  Was the last year a good one for you?  Were there things you wish you had done?  Let's look forward and make this a fantastic year.

 

Not happy with leadership in your community, your state, the nation?  Remember to get involved.  Vote.  Volunteer for candidates that you believe in.  All of us can join together and make a difference.

 

There are so many areas besides politics where we can make a difference.  Donate money if you are able.  Donate your time and your talents too.  Make well thought out decisions in all that you do.  Be kind and caring to others.  2019 is just a few hours old, but it has potential.  Let's make it fantastic!