You Know Your Life Is On Purpose When You Know Yourself As A
World Citizen
As of this writing over 155,000 of our brothers and sisters have
died in Asia from the natural disaster of a tsunami. As Ann and
I have watched the death toll climb over the past week, Ann
reminded me that we are not simply citizens of Flat Rock, or of
North Carolina, or of the United States -- we are world
citizens. We are all on this planet together, playing the game
called life full out, doing the best we can in each situation,
and if we're ever to truly experience a World On Purpose we can
no longer isolate ourselves by made up borders or beliefs.
Another interesting number that I heard related to the tsunami
disaster was that over 1 billion dollars had been pledged to
help the victims. One thing that we did as a family on New
Year's Eve was to discuss what we felt we could do as 'world
citizens' to help our world family through this challenging
time. Here's what we came up with. I share this simply to
encourage and to inspire others to explore for themselves what
they can do.
It has evolved into a simple 4 Step Plan:
1. Pray for those most affected. You might include in your
prayer something like this: "Please help us recognize that what
has happened is an opportunity masquerading as a natural
disaster. It is an opportunity for us all to come together as
ONE in love and harmony. Help me stay mindful to this
opportunity."
2. Contribute some 'good green energy' of money now to help the
people of Asia to get through these next few weeks. Our 12-year
old daughter, Amber, asked if she could contribute from her
"Future Fund"-- money that has been set aside for her
future/college. Realizing she has no future that doesn't include
the rest of the world, we agreed.
3. Pledge to continue giving throughout the year. After all, the
rebuilding process will take years. Long after this matter is no
longer in the news, there will still be much to do, so we felt
some continual support was important. One way we're planning to
provide ongoing support is by 'adopting' or sponsoring one or
more children. Here are a couple of the agencies through which
this can be done:
www.savethechildren.org As a child sponsor, you'll see up close
and personal, through corresponding with your sponsored child,
how you are helping to create a better, brighter future for
children in need. For less than a $1 a day, your sponsored child
and others in the community can benefit from quality education,
school health and nutrition programs and many other initiatives.
www.planusa.org Child sponsorship makes a difference in a
child's life. Your participation results in benefits like safe,
clean drinking water, improved education and health care,
increased family income, and more in countries where such
benefits are often unattainable. You'll be helping to provide
the most basic needs of your sponsored child.
Another way to provide support is through the Heifer Project:
www.heifer.org/ After immediate needs for food, shelter, fresh
water, clothing and other necessities have been met, Heifer
works within communities to empower disaster survivors with the
economic means - such as livestock, training and other resources
- to rebuild their families, their neighborhoods and their hope
for sustainable futures.
4. Share with others and invite their participation in whatever
way works for them. (Like I'm doing right now.)
If you realize that you're a world citizen also and want to
contribute as well, here's a web site that has a list of
organizations that are at work in disaster relief:
www.redcross.org/ www.networkforgood.org/
Help Support Disaster Relief in Southeast Asia People across
Southeast Asia, stricken by the Tsunami Disaster, need your help
to recover and rebuild - many have lost everything. Please join
millions of other generous Americans and support one or many of
the important relief organizations with a safe and easy
contribution now. Your cash contributions are desperately needed
and will provide assistance to those whose lives have been
devastated by this terrible disaster.