Advent—Hope—Day 4

What comes after Black Friday and Cyber Monday?

Giving Tuesday. It’s been around since a 2012 hashtag gave it wings and sent it flying on social media, but I only heard of it yesterday.

I had the opportunity to attend a Giving Tuesday event in honor of six non-profit organizations and the good work they are doing. As one of the honorees said, there are “one thousand ways to fight the darkness.”

• Energy assistance services, for those struggling to keep the lights on and the heat going.
• After school and summer programs, so kids can learn more, and so their parents and family members can keep working without worrying about childcare.
• Career programs, so people can get a leg up in finding a new job and re-training for other opportunities.
• Harm reduction and overdose prevention kits, because addiction is brutal, and it does no good to pretend a loved one doesn’t have a problem.
• Clothes and hygiene closets, to protect the human dignity of recipients by providing for basic needs.
• Transportation services, because not everyone has reliable wheels, the money to cover gasoline, or the ability to drive.
• Counseling support for families, to heal emotional trauma and strengthen relationships.
• Peer-support services, so that those who have battled their demons and overcome them may help light the way and give hope to others.
• Mental health programs, for we now live in a time where it’s okay to get help.
• Court-based interventions, because we seek justice, yet love mercy. 

And we walk humbly with our God.

The evil in the world will continue to press, but there are so many on the front lines who are daily striving against it.

I was reminded of what was good and right with the world yesterday—it’s the people who live out Jesus’s command, and it was just another glimmer of hope shining through this Advent season.

‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’.”

Matthew 25:35-40

If you have the means, give of your money. If you have the time, volunteer. If you see a neighbor hurting, give them a hand. 

And who is my neighbor?

Anybody walking this same old messed-up world at the same time as you. There are billions of us now.

Which also means, there are many more than a thousand ways to fight the darkness.

All you have to do is to start with one of them.

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Reflection and Prayer: Many of us choose to donate money and volunteer our time around the holiday season. Do you sense God’s call to help someone out? Could it even be to serve regularly with an organization? Pray for the willingness to say yes to meet the needs of others.