  Spiritual
This week: Pass it Forward Edited by: Kit  
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A smile. A word of encouragement. A hug. Such small things, that can seem so insignificant, yet they can make a big difference, both for the giver and the person on the receiving end.
This week's Spiritual Newsletter is all about charity and acts of kindness, and why they matter.
kittiara |
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I sponsored a kitty yesterday. Olaf the cat lives in a rescue center in Ohio. That’s all the way across the ocean from me, and it may seem like an unusual choice to sponsor a cat who lives that far away, but I think he is deserving of some love.
I became familiar with the rescue center through a video streaming website. I liked what I saw. The center has lots of cats and kittens walking around, as they only keep cats in cages when they’re in quarantine or in need of medical care. It’s cat paradise, pretty much, where every feline is given a chance – lots of love, lots of care, and a temporary or permanent home. Most of the kitties are looking for kind humans to take them in, but some are residents. They are the ones who cannot be put up for adoption due to age, or medical problems. One example is Bella, who had been hit by a car. She’s lost her back leg and is partly paralyzed in the rest of her hindquarters. In other centers she may have been written off as a lost cause, but I have seen her scooting around contentedly on camera, and she looks like a happy cat. She can even climb, and she is not above telling off overly playful kittens. Bella has had her home at the center since 2002.
Olaf, another resident, cannot be seen on camera. He is a friendly stray who lives in the backyard and on the sun porch, where he is fed, and watered, and cared for. In the winter the sun porch cats have heated mats and beds, and access to heat lamps in the shed. These cats do not want to live indoors, but at least they have a home and receive the care of a vet. I chose him because he looks like a cat who used to visit my home, who has sadly passed away. I guess he also reminds me of my two cats – they were found wandering the countryside when they were young, and they were in a very bad state when we got them. Like Olaf, they are free spirits. Whilst they spend most of their time indoors, they refuse to be confined to the house, and whether I like it or not, they come and go as they please. I suppose there is something touching about the fact that they always return, though. They choose to be with me. A lot of that will be down to food and warmth, I am sure, but I’d like to think that if they didn’t like me, they’d find a different place to live. So I must be alright in their opinion.
It’s a curious thing, charity. Many people on Writing.Com will have been on the receiving end of it at one point or another. An anonymous c-note to cheer them up or offer encouragement, some gift points for a review, perhaps even an upgrade given by a complete stranger. W.Com members tend to be giving. And it is good to give. It is nice to know that a small act of kindness can make someone’s day, inspire them to keep doing what they do, or offer some relief when times are difficult.
There is a line of thought that no act of charity is ever selfless, because even if you make an anonymous gift, you always receive something in return. That something is that pleasant knowledge that you’ve helped someone, that you’ve done something nice, and that you’ve made someone’s day that little bit better.
Be that as it may, I think that the act of giving without the expectation of something in return is to be encouraged. It’s a tough world out there. It’s all too easy to only look out for ourselves and for our nearest and dearest. Many people don’t have the option to do anything but that, and even then it’s difficult to keep afloat. And there are those who haven’t been able to keep afloat, who live on the streets, and who have to rely on the charity of others. Only about a decade ago, I could have ended up there, and I am very lucky to have a roof over my head and food on the table. I’m not rich, far from it, but I am hanging in there.
It can be difficult to pick a good cause to donate to, especially when you don’t have a whole lot of money. There are so many charities. It is good that they exist, but sad that there is such a need for them. In an ideal world, nobody would need the assistance.
Here in the UK, there is an organization that helps homeless people help themselves by selling a newspaper called the Big Issue. In the city, there are many such sellers, and I always feel a bit sad because I can’t purchase a copy from every seller. In my nearby town it’s sold by one lady, so I tend to purchase a copy from her.
Many good causes miss out on my support because they want you to make a monthly donation through direct debit, and I don’t know whether I can afford to sign up for that and pay them month by month. I reckon there are a lot of people who would be more comfortable giving when they can, rather than be tied to continuous support. I can understand that it helps charities to be able to estimate what they can count on, but I’m sure they miss out because of people like myself.
There are also causes who miss out on my support because of the ruthless campaigns they run. Even if the cause is a good one, and I should really look beyond the tactics employed, I can’t bring myself to donate to them. One such a charity sent me a letter outlining cruelty to animals in such an upsetting way that I ended up in tears and felt sick for a good while after. I cannot stand cruelty to animals, and I know that awareness should be raised about it, but there are good ways and bad ways of doing so.
Instead, Olaf the friendly stray got my support. There was no manipulation, and the tactic employed by the center was clever, but positive. If they hadn’t been online, I would never have been aware of them. But they are, and I stumbled upon their stream, and they made me smile and laugh right when I needed a bit of a cheer-me-up.
Acts of kindness don’t need to cost money, though. They can be free, and make a big impact. A word of encouragement goes a long way. A friendly email, a review, even something as simple as a smile can lift someone’s spirit.
Charity, acts of kindness, are good for the soul, both for the receiver and the giver. It is my firm belief that positive acts have a positive impact far beyond what we intend to do. When we are nice to the person at the check-out, for example, they may well have a genuine smile for the next customer, and that may be the only pleasant contact that customer has had that day. They may then hold the door open for a lady who is struggling with a pram, who is worn down because her baby has kept her up all night. That simple gesture may help the lady feel some relief, and later on, when she speaks with a friend or family member, she may sound more positive than she has in previous days. Who knows how far an act of kindness can spread? My scenario is, of course, fictional, but I think that nice deeds do inspire people to pass it forward.
I didn’t write about my sponsorship of Olaf to brag about it, or to get a pat on the back. Some people might even think me silly, because they think helping humans is more important than helping animals. I decided to write about it because it made me realize that whilst sponsoring one cat at a rescue center only makes a minute difference, if we all spread some smiles, together we can make a significantly larger difference.
It doesn’t take much. It doesn’t need to cost. And sometimes, by making someone’s day, you make your own a whole lot better.
kittiara
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This week's highlighted items are a mixture of items sent in after my request for pieces about people's beliefs and experiences, and new additions to the Spiritual genre. I hope that you will enjoy them  .
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The Spiritual Newsletter Team welcomes any and all questions, suggestions, thoughts and feedback, so please don't hesitate to write in!
johnny1209 - I, too, am a Christian but my experiences and beliefs are different. I don't see how one can believe in Christ but not the book that tells us about Him, the book that was written by his early followers who were there. The holy Bible is open to interpretation and Christians do it all the time. Hell or 'hades' is one of those things believers have discussed since day one. That's the greatest thing about the Bible, it creates a dialog between us and God. :) Enjoyed the newsletter. - Johnny
Hi Johnny! I do believe that the Bible tells us about God and Jesus, and the lives and times of those who were around then. However, I see it more as an important collection of historical documents than the be all and end all of what God is all about. Which books were included was, after all, down to humans, and it is so open to interpretation, which can make for fascinating debates, but it can also cause trouble. Look at all the different paths even within Christianity! As said, I do believe the Bible is important, though. As you say, it does create dialogue and it helps the reader to search for answers, which can lead to self-development. It can also give great comfort, and its influence on society cannot be denied.
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ANN Counselor, Lesbian & Happy  - Yours is perhaps the most convincing essay on the subject Does God Exist?. thank you for the perspective that by faith simply clarifies "because He does." I also know about things that happen, places I've gone, answers for other when I've prayed, the awareness that I'm being led to be a place and when I go, there is a critical reason that I'm there because something good/God happens to someone when I take that path. You're right, God is. And, not all the answers are clearly in the Bible or church. Also, God Loves Good.
Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing some of your experiences. I do agree with you. God is, and God loves good!
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Fi - An excellent newsletter, thank you. I really loved your comment about refraining from dragging God down from Heaven and demanding miracles from Him. I always find this newsletter encouraging.  Shine on!
Thank you so much for your encouraging words!
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llinenboy - How can you claim to be a Christian, with out believing in hell . You can not pick and choose when it comes to Gods word. eirther you believe it or you don,t. You can not dismis the old testament and believe in the new testament. The old fortold the phropicies of the new. You can,t have creation with out death. Including a God without Satan. So if you don,t believe in hell without suffering you might as well give up because doing evil carries the same penalty as doing good. Don,t lead people astray.
I don't think it is possible to lead people astray with one little editorial in a newsletter. All I can do is to offer one perspective, my own experiences, my own questions and thoughts. But I don't think that a belief in hell is required to be a Christian. In my opinion, a Christian is someone who believes in God, and who believes in the sacrifice of Jesus. Isn't that the path of Christianity? If someone does good out of fear of eternal suffering, if someone only tries to believe because of the consequences of not doing so, what is that worth? Not that I am saying that that's the reality of many people's faith, but it seems a bit stick and carrot to me. I don't think that either are needed.
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warriormom - Thank you so much for inlcuding my newly written poem in your newsletter. It's always exciting to have some free exposure, especially for something newly written. 
Pat
You are welcome, Pat! Thanks for writing such a lovely piece and sharing it with all of us on W.Com!
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Bookie Taylor - Am pleased to see spiritual comments no matter where they come from. We don't all stand before the same God . He is a personal God to each indevidual. Thanks for the space Bookie Taylor
Thanks so much .
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Christine Cassello - I think you did a good job of explaining your beliefs. I became a Christian at a very young age and always felt that I had no testomony to share with others to convince them of the reality of God and what He can do for them. He did not bring me out of any terrible addiction or heal me of a life threatening disease. I was spared these things because I have always walked as closely as I could with Him but I went through many years of doubting if I was really saved. He told me He loved me in dramatic ways twice when I felt that I was unworthy of His love.
I think you did a great job right there, sharing your love of God, and what He means to you . Thank you for sharing it with us.
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sandirev  - Hello Kittiara, I was moved to speak. I have a lot to share that I have encountered over the years and most recent as well. I am moving on 6/1/2012 so my pc will be down for a bit. When I return I'd really like to confer with you as I too am a believer. Joy.:)
Thanks for writing in! Feel free to get in touch .
~~~
Wishing you a week filled with inspiration,
The Spiritual Newsletter Team
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Spiritual: June 20, 2012 Issue [#5112]
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