Lifting a Finger

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Kay_Cee

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When my parish announced in its bulletin that it was over $122,000 in debt, I thought I would help by reminding some of my Facebook friends that all the 2014 profits from my two Catholic novels were going to help alleviate this. I sent PMs to those who were members of my parish, asking them to Share my post. I thought for sure they would want to help, especially since all this involved was placing the cursor over “Share” and clicking.

But they would not–literally–lift a finger to help.

At first I was devastated. Then I was angry. And then . . .

. . . and then I remembered all the times I was “too busy” or “couldn’t bother” when I was the one who should have lifted a finger. How many times when Jesus called upon me did I have something far more important to do like sleep or watch television? It all really hit home today when I read in St. Catherine of Siena’s* Dialogues* “Compare the harm you do to me and to your neighbors with what is done to you, and you will find that in comparison to what you do to me and them your own hurt is nothing.”

Anyway, I thought I would “click Share” about my little epiphany in the hope that maybe it will help somebody else. 🙂
 
A) Dear Facebook friends, My/our parish is requesting donations to reduce its debt. The parish has always been there for us in the past, now let’s see what we can do for the parish. Please consider helping by your contributions, prayers, and/or sharing this post.

B) Dear Facebook friends, I am selling two books and have donated the profits from my past book sales to my parish to reduce its debt. So if you know anyone else who might want to buy my books, please consider helping by sharing this post.

Between the two, A or B, I would be more likely to respond to A, either by making a private donation to the parish without posting about it on Facebook, or at least by praying.

That’s just me. YMMV.
 
Kay_Cee said:
Phoenix, I think you missed the entire point of my post.
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Maybe I missed it too. I couldn’t get beyond what sounded like a lack of humility to me. But, perhaps I just missed what your point was.
 
We are called by God to do many things. Charity is an important duty of all Christians. Sharing someone else’s fund raising appeal is not direct charity. Is your fund raiser charity? That remains to be seen. You are a parishioner, and not the pastor of this parish. Perhaps your Facebook friends saw your PM as spam and not charity. Members on Facebook, and indeed anyone who uses the Internet or holds an email address, are frequently beset by all types of spam. A charity appeal that requests others to reshare is attempting to go viral, and therefore you should be aware that it could be called spam. It could be against the Facebook terms of service.

Therefore I am not sure your analogy has merit. Sometimes God’s call for us to act is clear, sometimes it is not so clear.
 
Neofight said:
Maybe I missed it too. I couldn’t get beyond what sounded like a lack of humility to me. But, perhaps I just missed what your point was.
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Maybe you wouldn’t be so rude to the OP if you actually finished reading what he wrote. Who are you to judge him anyways? God? I think not.
 
I agree! Gosh, how about some general charity in the posts that are exchanged?! Kay was just relating her frustration at trying to do a good thing and then remembering that she, as well as everyone else, often respond in the same manner as that which frustrated her. Although, Kay, the option A or option B post looked like someone was trying to suggest a more effective way to achieve your goal. That’s the problem with the written word minus the facial expressions, tone and body language; the writer’s intentions are not always completely or accurately conveyed.

*Keep me, O God, from pettiness; let me be large in thought, in word, in deed. Let me be done with fault-finding and self-seeking. May I put away all pretense and meet everyone face to face without self-pity and without prejudice. May I never be hasty in judgment and always generous. Let me take time for all things. Make me grow calm, serene and gentle. Teach me to put into action my better impulses, straightforward and unafraid. Grant that I may realize it is the little things of life that create differences and that in the big things of life we are one. And, O Lord God, let me not forget to be kind! *
 
KS_Housewife said:
I agree! Gosh, how about some general charity in the posts that are exchanged?! Kay was just relating her frustration at trying to do a good thing and then remembering that she, as well as everyone else, often respond in the same manner as that which frustrated her. Although, Kay, the option A or option B post looked like someone was trying to suggest a more effective way to achieve your goal. That’s the problem with the written word minus the facial expressions, tone and body language; the writer’s intentions are not always completely or accurately conveyed.

*Keep me, O God, from pettiness; let me be large in thought, in word, in deed. Let me be done with fault-finding and self-seeking. May I put away all pretense and meet everyone face to face without self-pity and without prejudice. May I never be hasty in judgment and always generous. Let me take time for all things. Make me grow calm, serene and gentle. Teach me to put into action my better impulses, straightforward and unafraid. Grant that I may realize it is the little things of life that create differences and that in the big things of life we are one. And, O Lord God, let me not forget to be kind! *
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This is what I got from Kay’s post as well.

Kay, thank you for sharing!
 
Look I have no issue with the poster’s concern for charitable causes, But here’s what I saw in telling others she had donated her income:

Matthew 6:1-4

1*“[But] take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. 2When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, 4so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

I think bringing this to her attention was quite charitable.

And to whoever wanted to give me pointers on reading, please note in my post I said “I may have missed something”, and was certainly not as judgmental or uncharitable as you.

🤷
 
You know what? Forget the whole thing. Forget the thread.

I was just trying to point out the whole “log in my own eye” sort of thing.

As for Matthew 6: 1-4, the people I contacted already knew I was donating everything to charity, but anybody they contacted wouldn’t have known who I am. I write anonymously, under a pen name.

I’m amazed at how many people wanted to think the worst of me. 🤷
 
Oh, but thank you, Housewife, Discerning, and Denise, for your kind words.
 
I appreciate the reminder that so often we don’t take a minute to do a good that might resonate for all of eternity.

I also see the point others are making about using FB for various causes.

Sadly many such shared posts on FB are scams. It is one thing for us to share with just our friends on our list who know us and the cause we speak of, but I can understand their decision not to share the same with people who don’t know us and are not connected to our cause.

Your post makes me more mindful of both aspects of this situation, thank you for sharing, and I hope that your parish is soon in the black again, due to the care and efforts of people like yourself.
 
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