Telling people I’m a writer usually brings on waves of curiosity. In part I think because it’s an unusual craft, and folks wonder if they’ve read something I’ve written, and if somebody can really make a living writing – in which case they might just try it themselves. And that’s because we all were born to communicate with others. It’s an essential for forming relationships, which we were programmed by God to crave.

 

So people ask me about what I’ve written, and yada yada . The questions are usually the same, so I guess if I was smart I’d put the answers on cards and just hand them out to save my breath. But then, I like communicating, so it’s only natural to answers their questions, and then to ask a few of my own, since I like learning about others.

 

Some of the folks on our team that went to Guatemala were curious. They got to see a couple of my children’s books which I’d brought along. But they also asked me about other types of writing I do. In fact this very blog exists not just because of the fact that I would explode if I didn’t tell of my trip, but also because a couple of guys challenged me to write about the experiences we had.

 

A couple of years ago I walked right into the opportunity to submit a little 500 word essay to be included in a book of inspirational writing. There was a real mixed bag of philosophies and values expressed therein. Wasn’t even printed on super nice paper. But obviously it hit home with readers, because it became a bestseller. Guess that makes me a bestselling co-author (I say with a grin).

 

I don’t believe in coincidences, so I’m confident my words belong in that book. They were simple to write, because they represent my philosophy of life. Not the kind of philosophy that you have to recite every morning in the shower in order to reprogram yourself, but rather more like a declaration of what God’s done to change me from the inside out.

 

So here’s my little (big) essay – has nothing to do with our trip to Guatemala, and yet it does. Because it reflects how each member of our team acted every day. You’ll see what I mean …

 

GIVING

(With A Passion)

 

The most profound discovery I’ve made about my life in this world is that it’s not about me.

 

Life is not centered on my goals, my ambitions, my peace of mind, my plans, my money, my toys. I wasn’t created to serve myself. And I will never find who I am or what my destiny is to be by looking in the mirror.

 

Real living is about giving to others. Giving for the sake of giving, without regard for what may come in return. Making the choice to give as a lifestyle – and with a passion.

 

This perspective makes all the difference. Our search for meaning, our search for significance, our search for purpose finds focus when we choose to give to others.

 

Real giving isn’t just about money. It’s about giving ourselves – our knowledge, our wisdom, our talents, our time – investing into the lives of others. This lifestyle does not need to revolve around a legalistic system of plans and percentages. Rather it revolves around simply looking at the needs of those with whom we come in contact and reaching out with what we have been given.

 

Giving is not necessarily an expensive thing to do either. We are all wealthy in different ways, so giving can be as inexpensive as a smile, as sincere “thank you”, a word of encouragement, or saying “how are you?” to a total stranger – and meaning it.

 

Each encounter throughout every day of our lives, presents an opportunity to contribute something beneficial to the life of another person. Every encounter is unique and none are coincidental. Just as there are no unimportant people, there are also no unimportant encounters. Thus no unimportant giving.

 

From this kind of giving comes a sense of mission in life. A sense of motivation that for each of us there is indeed a higher calling. And from this comes a basis for answers when we ask ourselves the big life questions – like who we are to be and what we are to do. From this we derive a level of satisfaction that is unequaled by self-serving pursuits.

 

We soon learn that giving of ourselves in small ways prepares us for the privilege and the responsibility of giving in bigger ways – in ways that change the lives of other people. This is what will ultimately define who we are and what our legacy will be

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We find ourselves by giving to others – with a passion.

 

John Hall

copyright 2005