If you have not already begun to pencil in your summer plans, this edition of Watermark may be what you have been waiting for. It is filled with articles and advertisements that invite you to attend parties, concerts, shows, vacation opportunities, Gay Days, Pride events and so much more. It is the Outdoors edition.
Although we do not have to manage a season of bitter cold winters with the beauty and hassle of snow-draped landscapes like our neighbors to the north, there is still a buzz of excitement in the air and signs everywhere that summer is peeking around the corner and inviting us “out” to play.
In the spirit of summer and all the exciting opportunities for rest, relaxation and summer fun, there is one more invitation that you may miss or even dismiss. The opportunity to look “outside” yourself and notice something you could do to make a difference in the world you touch and the world that touches you is also calling for your attention.
Often, summer gets packed with opportunities and events that are for our own pleasure. What about scheduling a little bit of you to give back or, as the movie a few year ago suggests, Pay it Forward? Think about all the people who have touched your life. Some you will know, many you have never met. What could you offer back that could make a difference to those you know and those you will touch, unbeknownst to you, by leaving the world a better place than you found it at the beginning of this summer?
The prophet Qoheleth, author of the book of Ecclesiastes in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament), is often quoted in a toast or celebration saying, “Eat, drink and be merry!” You may ask, what does a Hebrew prophet from an ancient Jewish society have to do with your summer plans? He was not just talking about the indulgence of food, beverages and happiness. He was talking about living in the moment with intention and living from a place of recognized gratitude and noticing what you do have, not what you want to get! His audience was moving though life as they knew it would go on forever, just as it was and without any contribution from those who received so much. It was both a warning and an invitation. That warning and invitation is timeless and for anyone that lives in a society that offers autonomy and independence to its citizens, it is calling our names.
Most, if not all of us, have certainly experienced how the down turn in the economy has impacted our lives. We live in a part of the country that is vulnerable to violent storms. Our state is less than welcoming to our community with plenty of people working to legislates greater limits on our freedom. And, while we have a lot to be thankful for, we must not grow complacent in the experience of freedom we have and think there is nothing for us to do but “eat, drink and be merry.”
There is plenty that you can do to make a difference and with a little planning you may replace what might feel like a “have to” with a “get to” give back opportunity. Take a minute and think, on average, how much you spend in a week on coffee, drinks, fast food, entertainment, dinning, etc. It may be as little as $5 and it may be much greater. No matter how much it is, add it up and then divide it over the next four to five months.
In a visible place in your car, home or office, start a giving fund throughout the summer with the plan to save that amount and give it to your favorite charity or politician you hope to get into office. Think about the time you set aside for recreation, entertainment and play time. Be intentional about donating a small portion of that time to you favorite charity, lobby organization, politician’s campaign or someone you know that needs something done which they can no longer do.
Maybe you enjoy time with children and could be a big brother or sister; maybe you are a skilled carpenter, painter, construction worker and could give a week to Habitat for Humanity. Maybe you sing and could go to a nursing home or senior center with a karaoke machine or a guitar and bring a smile to their lives for an hour.
Maybe you are a hair stylist and could donate some time to a homeless shelter. Maybe you are too busy with the demands of your job, but have some resources to share. Maybe you care about a certain charity that is holding a fundraising event. Share your passion with a few others and ask them to help you raise some money to increase your contribution. Maybe… you fill in the blank and think about a place to offer your time and skills.
Go outside your normal summer routine and think about a way that you could give back and still do everything you want to do this summer. Work hard, play hard and “Eat, drink and be merry if you want,” just include some sort of intentional “give back” plan. As you move into this season of fun in the sun, be grateful for what you have and find some way to pay it forward.
