Interesting thoughts. I think a lot about alternatives to money, it seems the game is to earn as much as possible by whatever means then use that to build a better life and help others, which doesn’t make sense to me. But money is absolutely necessary.
Perhaps the angry farmer is thinking about who we ask and for what. If you ask for help from a neighbour because they have a tractor and you don’t, but you can make amazing cakes and make a reciprocal arrangement without even thinking about it, that doesn’t feel like ‘charity’, it feels like a mutually supportive community. When relationships are real and organic I expect you don’t even know when you’re asking for help. (I’m being very generous to the angry farmer here, but I think the logic stands).
I have worked in charity fundraising for a few years and asking money is difficult, but asking money from the right people is almost easy. It seems to me, and I’m just thinking about this after reading your blog, that those who get joy from giving to your specific cause are getting something in return. It is in a weird way more reciprocal. All the advice to charities is around building and nurturing relationships, not in a cynical way, but in having a relationship with your donors you both get more out of the arrangement.
Thank you for sharing Christine. You remind me of a word that my mentor, Martin Prechtel shares with me years ago, a word that is used by the Tutujil Maya of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala to express a foundational pillar of intact village life.... Kas'lemal. It essentially means mutual in-debtedness. It suggests a profound understanding of how interrelated we all are, not only human to human, and not only to this time, but with all beings and all times. The awareness of which is heartbreakingly overwhelming as we become cognizant on a deep, sensual level of how much we owe the world but can never repay such generosity. This knowing inspires us to give and to do so, as you said here, with joy and without even thinking about it. It becomes the very air we breathe. We are here to feed. As we are being fed by others. All blessings to you.
We need to help each other in these times and be willing to be helped. Best of luck to you and your community, Gregory.
Interesting thoughts. I think a lot about alternatives to money, it seems the game is to earn as much as possible by whatever means then use that to build a better life and help others, which doesn’t make sense to me. But money is absolutely necessary.
Perhaps the angry farmer is thinking about who we ask and for what. If you ask for help from a neighbour because they have a tractor and you don’t, but you can make amazing cakes and make a reciprocal arrangement without even thinking about it, that doesn’t feel like ‘charity’, it feels like a mutually supportive community. When relationships are real and organic I expect you don’t even know when you’re asking for help. (I’m being very generous to the angry farmer here, but I think the logic stands).
I have worked in charity fundraising for a few years and asking money is difficult, but asking money from the right people is almost easy. It seems to me, and I’m just thinking about this after reading your blog, that those who get joy from giving to your specific cause are getting something in return. It is in a weird way more reciprocal. All the advice to charities is around building and nurturing relationships, not in a cynical way, but in having a relationship with your donors you both get more out of the arrangement.
Thank you for sharing Christine. You remind me of a word that my mentor, Martin Prechtel shares with me years ago, a word that is used by the Tutujil Maya of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala to express a foundational pillar of intact village life.... Kas'lemal. It essentially means mutual in-debtedness. It suggests a profound understanding of how interrelated we all are, not only human to human, and not only to this time, but with all beings and all times. The awareness of which is heartbreakingly overwhelming as we become cognizant on a deep, sensual level of how much we owe the world but can never repay such generosity. This knowing inspires us to give and to do so, as you said here, with joy and without even thinking about it. It becomes the very air we breathe. We are here to feed. As we are being fed by others. All blessings to you.
This is beautiful, and a lot more eloquent than my version! Thank you for sharing ❤️