Practicing Inconvenient Generosity

--by jmh4, posted Dec 7, 2014

Buddha thought one's generosity was not true generosity if it was convenient. (Jesus certainly practiced the same lesson). After meditating on this, I reviewed my annual giving, and ruled it convenient.

Around this time, I met a single mother who'd lost custody of her two kids and was homeless. I decided to take her into my small house, and I did so for five months, helping her find an attorney and a counselor and some general support.

The five months she stayed with me were indeed a challenging, rewarding, very inconvenient, humbling, taxing and spiritually enlivening experience.

I can't pretend any more that "they" - the homeless, mentally challenged, downtrodden, addicted, or however "different" are fundamentally different from me as a human being. There are a lot of homeless folks in my town. There but for the grace of God go we all.

Everyone, I learned anew, faces pretty much all the same demons and has pretty much all the same graces (virtues, strengths). We just have to work very hard to ignore the demons and bring our graces of heart, mind and body to the fore, which takes guts, patience, mindfulness and courage.

I don't know what I will do next that is generously inconvenient. Perhaps something this time that's a tad more convenient. Take better care of myself, perhaps. I still have a lot to learn , like what I deserve to do besides work hard.

Thanks for giving me a place to share this.

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Posted by jmh4
Dec 7, 2014
Comments (15)

Readers Comments

vitalreiki wrote: What an incredible, inspiring post. You have a very kind heart.

lightshade11 wrote: In generous inconvenience you have found beautiful wisdom :) thank you for the gift you have given this woman who has lost so much and the chance you have awakened to others in her position from your viewpoint

tsukid wrote: Faith, trust and love....thank you so much for sharing and inspiring

debbe530 wrote: This is a wonderful share - thank you. You no doubt made a lasting difference in both your lives. I agree, we cannot let a few bad apples make us distrust and give into fear. I gave food and money to a homeless woman tonight and was semi-chastised by a friend. We have many scam artists in Portland including a guy recently arrested after making $80K on the street [he had quite an act going]. But there are times when my heart and intuition tell me it is the right thing to do. And there are times when I even pick up hitch hikers. And those have been wonderful experiences. Blessings on you.

unknown wrote: Wonderful insight!

servingsmiles wrote: Inspiring . More power to you. it is a courageous act !

Mish wrote: Yes, please take care of yourself , by all means! So important to do, So you can be the best you & continue to be an awesome kindness giver. Blessed be.

SOTProject wrote: This is inspiring and i think it is absolutely amazing what you did for her!

wavingatyou wrote: So very beautiful. Thank you and blessings :)

sandyremillard wrote: Bless you for helping her. As to what is your next step, a little silence and relaxation, listening to your inner all-loving voice should direct you just right!

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