I too was taught to show charity. I like to be active as much as I can in the charity. Sometimes just giving money instead of time makes me feel a sense of lack. The charities I participate in are The Humane Society, ASPCA, RAINN and others.
I want to start getting involved in charities that do more than just give money. I've been searching for charities that help build skills and create opportunities instead of creating a dependency situation.
I think that's amazing. I was raised Catholic and was never raised with tithing but i was raised by a social worker turned paralegal where I understood from the beginning of life how important it is to help other people. Even little acts of kindness is showing people that you respect their humanity. We donate what we can when we can (though we're pretty strapped now) and I fundraise like crazy. I ran a 1/2 marathon last spring for The Wellness Community of Delaware which gives free support programs for people who have been diagnosed with or are receiving treatment for cancer as well as their families. It's awesome (and where I was lucky enough to do my first graduate student internship!) But I'm grateful for the way my mother raised me because I get immense satisfaction in helping people and I am raising my nephew to understand that helping people is important. Heck, it's the big reason i went into social work in the first place (it CERTAINLY isn't the paycheck. lol).
I really love this idea. I tithed at my old church which turned into a cult, and found out recently where that money ended up. Right now, I tithe in the same way you're talking about, as I'm a Quaker - so I give what I can (time, etc. when I'm able to get out of bed) working toward social justice causes.
I think that giving time right off the top, the cream of your time, is another good and important way of tithing. You're relying on the universe to take care of you if that time you give takes away from something else, like your job, etc. And sometimes, when you have 0 income, it's the only thing we can do.
Finding a way to give til it hurts is the doctrine I always held the most faith in. Giving your all. I imagine it's something I'll be practising until the day I die. It's a hard thing to learn. :)
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I want to start getting involved in charities that do more than just give money. I've been searching for charities that help build skills and create opportunities instead of creating a dependency situation.
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Wonderful post, btw. :-)
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I think that giving time right off the top, the cream of your time, is another good and important way of tithing. You're relying on the universe to take care of you if that time you give takes away from something else, like your job, etc. And sometimes, when you have 0 income, it's the only thing we can do.
Finding a way to give til it hurts is the doctrine I always held the most faith in. Giving your all. I imagine it's something I'll be practising until the day I die. It's a hard thing to learn. :)
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