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Definition: Converting habits that
harm, into resources that heal.
very
living human being chooses to consume enough food, beverage/water,
hopefully, every day to (hopefully) sustain life. Approximately
one million will die from over consumption and some eighteen
million children under the age of five will die from under
consumption. By any single means of measurement this is obviously
unacceptable!
If we were to honestly assess our personal consumption habits and
convert those habits we believe do us harm into actual money and
then purchase a replacement “food/beverage” (that we
enjoy) that does us good. Then we would benefit with potentially
longer, healthier and happier lives.
But what if we were to find that the alternative cost less and we
had a savings even after replacing the harmful substance?
We propose a DOUBLE BENEFIT by searching for an objective for your
compassion. Perhaps a child orphaned by HIV in Africa who may have
no hope for life unless you contribute? Or an adult in a nearby
urban back street who can’t read and will remain “left
out” until they can?
Every single one of us has something or someone who tugs on our
heartstrings and for whom we long to do something but don’t
have the money?
If there is a savings between a present habit and a future alternative
then you have new money to close that unfilled compassionate connection.
Here are two examples:
• In 1983 my wife Treena and I chose to reduce our meat consumption
by about $20.00 a week for our family of 4 adults. We spent $10.00
on vegetables we really liked. We lost weight, lowered cholesterol,
felt better, and we enjoyed the change which are all benefits. Then
we took the $10.00 savings, which become $520.00 for the year and
invested this new money in two children through Compassion
International. One of which we still support today. He lives healthily
and is well educated because of our habit change.
• Recently we’ve started to freeze sweet red seedless
organic grapes. We reach for a couple when we feel like a cookie
or a chocolate covered “whatever”. We’ve computed
the amount saved as $205.00 per person per year. Enough for another
two children?
This is what we mean by the “Double Benefit” and we’d
like to see the idea grow.
That’s why we’ve included it on our Web site and invite
you to simply consider this sequence and what it could mean both
to you, those you love and those who because of your change may
experience real hope.
Save your supermarket receipts for one month (or even one visit
will do!).
Be as sincerely sensible as you can possibly be and put a ring around
any item you think might do you harm, i.e.: too many calories,
too much fat, over salted, expensively packaged, well you will know.
Then compare its price with an alternative you would enjoy, yet
costs less.
Estimate what that savings would represent on an annual basis. This
is your new outdulgence money.
Now list three injustices that literally “tug on
your heart”!
Go online with the key words, i.e. hunger, adoption, reading, eldercare,
the list of urgent needs are almost endless.
Note the Web site of interest and write to each one asking exactly
what they do to bring “healing” and how much of your
donated dollar will go to the need itself. Depending upon
the nature of the problem and its administration “effort”
you may see $.75 to $.80 actually reach the person in need, if its
less than $.75 be careful!
When you’ve settled on your cause ask for a means
to connect with just one person at the other end by some means.
The more personal the better.
Make up your mind to keep up this contribution for the three-year
period and to promise a one-year notice of ceasing to give. If you
start a garden it will take three years to get it going and it only
takes one year to become overgrown! How much more important to give
an individual some consistency and real hope?
Expect to be severely challenged in your decision. To “crave”
a return to your possibly “destructive” indulgence is
“normal” but always know that someone somewhere has
life and hope because of your choice. Doesn’t
it make sense that an all our war against injustice will involve
effort and courage?
Finally, when you’ve got the harmful habit replaced by a creative
alternative you will be tempted to see others who smoke, drink,
chew on large candy bars, attack vast steaks, and clutch super gulp
cola’s and judge them as somehow, “wrong”? Please
resist this at all costs! Judgment trumps love every time and
if you contribution comes from any other source but loving kindness
and compassion, it won’t turn back the tide of injustice by
one inch.
Now congratulate yourself for reading all this and if you
choose to follow up on the idea lets know what you are doing and
we’ll publish it right here as an encouragement to others.
- Graham and Treena Kerr
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