some rambling thoughts on fundraising, giving, etc...

So, my Dad looked at me tonight (my sweet, rarely finds a fault with anyone Dad) and said
"What about stroke research?"
It's never wise to play the comparison game....and so we decided not to:)
but the question's a valid one, I think....
If only there was enough money to solve all the problems of the world.....actually, if only we better spent money on addressing the problems we really could affect: basic nutrition, basic health care, basic water supplies....so, so many needs all around the world and right at our own back doors...
This whole water dumping/ ALS awareness raising campaign has mostly seemed like a pretty good idea to me....
I listened to an interview with a spokesperson for an ALS support group and she seemed overwhelmed by the $$ given....very much realizing the group's good fortune that this has become the latest social media trend. I HOPE everyone dumping water and donating money is also taking time to educate all involved on the facts of ALS. It is truly a heartbreaking disease and DESERVES  every dollar given and every ounce of attention received!!
I am not a naysayer.....
I am not a partypooper....
I am also not a fundraiser......I'm still not sure what my career path holds (she says wearily!) but I'm pretty sure it's not raising $$. There's a place for that. And in our very goal oriented and success oriented culture we like to think that if we throw enough money at something we might just can fix it. And let me be clear: I'm all for research! I'm amazed at how much brilliant Doctors can do to help us in times of physical need. But anybody who's personally dealt with and studied neurological issues knows research is long and slow because it's Hard!! We're still not as  smart as we'd like to think we are about the brain (and all of the body, really!) We often hear phrases like "beat this"/ "fight that" in disease fundraising.....i'm here to say when it comes to most illnesses, our power to fight or beat them is pretty much nonexistent. The goal should be to not let them conquer our spirits!! We are more than
our diagnosises and our sicknesses.....we are all broken, complicated God created beings in a broken, complicated world.....our lives will not end if or when an illness "beats" us.....and our consuming aim of this world should be living in grace and knowing we're fully prepared for the next world! (Maybe that sounds preachy but that's what I really believe.)

All of this philosophizing to say this: Do the ALS challenge if you want! And then: go find the person in your life who's experiencing a longterm or shortterm illness and reach out to them!! Give them a call......send them a card. Shoot, stick a 10 dollar bill in the card!! (If their family is like most, their financial resources have long ago been affected by medical costs and sacrifices!) Or not....the personal concern is the main thing. It's clear to me that the longer a person is "sick", the easier it gets to ignore them.....the more "normal" their illness seems....
Send flowers. Pray more. Bring over a meal.....food ministry ends Very quickly once a "crisis" is "over"...spend some time visiting....ask what you can do to help.

Look out for the people who are suffering in your own world! Giving to causes is good and necessary....having fun and feeling warm & fuzzy about your own generosity is a plus:) But I challenge you to step into the messiness of real, up-close physical and emotional pain....don't necessarily try to fix it but don't choose to overlook it. Let it change you....let it make you take account of your own mortality....let truly loving and giving of yourself to someone who is struggling with illness make you better...


*i will save my ranting about the "caregivers tax credit" legislation that has been languishing in Congress for YEARS & YEARS (and would actually financially help lots of families) for another day! Or ask me about it next time you see me :)