Blessings too numerous...

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As I was sitting at my desk watching a couple three crows out my window, I paused to reflect on their activities - feeding themselves for the day and undertaking preparations for winter. The realization that I have about as much foreknowledge as to what winter will bring to my family as those crows - perhaps less - channeled my interpretation of and focus upon the nature scene in another direction.

Another realization reared its head - no matter the petty difficulties of life as I've formed it, I have it so good! How many in this world suffer hunger each day, have no access to potable water?

The company I work for donates equipment to various missionary groups who drill water wells in developing countries. Just last week I had a hand in arranging a donation to a group working in Kenya of what are called fishing tools. These are tools used to retreive items, from water wells in progress, which fall in due to cable breakage or other mishap. It felt good playing a part in that transaction and replaying it in my mind brought me joy once again.

I then remembered a web site which is set up to donate food to those areas of the earth besieged by famine. Please take a momentary pause from your day, consider the plight of others less fortunate. Smile a smile of gratitude, whisper a prayer, shed a tear, drop a donation at your local food bank, visit the The Hunger Sitesite.

Here's a snip from that site, with which I have no affiliation:

"The Hunger Site focuses the power of the Internet on a specific humanitarian need - the eradication of world hunger. On average over 220,000 individuals from around the world visit the site each day to click the "donate free food" button and help feed the hungry. Founded in June 1999, The Hunger Site was the first "click-to-donate" site on the Web. To date more that 101 million visitors have donated more than 198 million cups of staple food."

"The donations of staple food are paid for by The Hunger Site's sponsors and are distributed to those in need by the United Nations World Food Programme, Mercy Corps and America's Second Harvest. Donations are split evenly between these organizations and go to the aid of hungry people in over 80 countries, including those in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and North America."

"With over 3.5 million unique visitors each month, The Hunger Site has become one of the most trafficked sites on the Internet. Its grassroots popularity has been recognized with prestigious Web awards in the activism category -- the 2000 Cool Site of the Year Award and the People's Voice winner at the 2000 Webby Awards."

"The Hunger Site is owned and operated by GreaterGood.com, a for-profit company based in Seattle, Washington."

Those of us who visit this board have it so good when viewed in the perspective of humanity as a single species on this fair earth. Look out beyond our chosen fish bowls to the vastness that is our world.

In need of a smile? Perform a simple service for someone in need. Be it personal - a trip to the local nursing home to hold a hand - or impersonal via a click on a web site, the action will light a fire of love in your heart, and upon reflecting on the deed, elicit a smile on your face.

Peace to you all - Rich

-- Bingo1 (howe9@shentel.net), November 17, 2000

Answers

BINGO=A MAN AFTER GODS HEART!

YOU GIVE=MERCY YOU,LL GET MERCY!

-- al-d (dogs@zianet.com), November 17, 2000.


Love it, Bingo. Been aware of that site for some time. You may have missed my "inspirational" post a few weeks ago which said something like this-I guess you were on a sabbatical! Thanks for the good thoughts.

-- FutureShock (gray@matter.think), November 17, 2000.

Beautiful, Bingo. Thanks so much for reminding us all to never lose sight of the wider perspective -- that it's within our power to help reduce the human suffering around us.

-- eve (eve_rebekah@yahoo.com), November 17, 2000.

I can't add to what eve, Future Shock and al-d said; just to add my thanks for posting this, Rich.

Very timely.

-- patricia (PatriciaS@lasvegas.com), November 17, 2000.


What's the bumper sticker?----"engage in random acts of kindness"

-- Lars (lars@indy.net), November 17, 2000.


Well what do you know! I saw those same crows just the other day. Said they were on their way to West Palm Beach to vote.

-- I (h@ve.spoken), November 17, 2000.

Lars,

I think goes something like:

Commit random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty.

{Unless you are one of those schmoes who has a problem with commitment}.

-- flora (***@__._), November 17, 2000.


That's the one, flora. I'm not one for bumper stickers, as many are quite "in your face" about issues which are best addressed with more care, but that one is inspirational.

To all, you're very welcome.

Have a great weekend!

Rich

-- Bingo1 (howe9@shentel.net), November 17, 2000.


I received an E-mail this week from our community organization. There is a drive that will terminate on the 21st, asking for donations of "slightly used" clothing, non-perishable foodstuffs, etc. They make it very easy. We just carry it to boxes placed inside the pool area.

Just as an aside, am I the only one here old enough to remember "Trick or Treating for UNICEF"? I remember trick-or- treating for several years in a row [during the 10-13 age], and felt quite good about collecting money for unfortunates rather than candy.

-- Anita (Anita_S3@hotmail.com), November 17, 2000.


Good point, Anita. The church I attend has a food drive going through the end of next month. We also sing carols at the local nursing home for a couple of hours. That experience is absolutely phenomenal!

Yes, I too trick-or-treated for UNICEF.

Rich

-- Bingo1 (howe9@shentel.net), November 17, 2000.



Flora--

Yeah, that's the one. Thanks. BTW, I like to schmooze with schmoes.

-- Lars (lars@indy.net), November 18, 2000.


I trick-or-treated for UNICEF too. That was during the time (in Brooklyn, anyway) where kids COULD trick-or-treat.

The old days.....not all of them were necessarily "good" :-)

-- Patricia (PatriciaS@lasvegas.com), November 18, 2000.


Bumping this to the top, as a reminder to folks to visit The Hunger Site. Thanks for posting this Bingo, and for sharing your compassionate thoughts with us.

-- Aunt Bee (Aunt__Bee@hotmail.com), November 25, 2000.

In the midst of the political processes, while most of us sit at home or at work, in the warmth of our surroundings, with enough to eat, and enough to share, and enough time to debate the nuances of US government, here is a bump to the top, as a reminder to spend a few seconds doing something selfless for someone else who could benefit. You decide what is really an important use of your time today.

-- Aunt Bee (Aunt__Bee@hotmail.com), November 28, 2000.

Cool B, good message : )

-- capnfun (capnfun1@excite.com), November 28, 2000.


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