Take time to do good for others

By MSGR. JIM LISANTE

If your mouth just fell open or if the thought flitted through your head that this column must be meant for somebody else, give me a minute.

I know that you're busy.

You have your job - you know, the one that lets you afford a place to live, put food on the table, and all the rest - work around the house, shopping and other errands.

Don't forget getting the children to school and, of course, their other activities, your obligations to parents, Church, and the additional commitments you've taken on. Add in efforts at "quality time" with family and friends. And who would begrudge you an occasional night on the town - or on your couch?

No doubt, you can come up with an even longer list of things you have to do.

No argument from me that you are busy. But I would like to point out that the English word leisure comes from the Latin for "to be permitted." I want to encourage you to give yourself permission to spend your time as carefully - yet generously - as you do your money.

OK, I'm making some assumptions here. But most people are very concerned, if not actually worried, about finances these days. Layoffs, cutbacks, recession are some of the troubling factors on everybody's minds as they stretch dollars and budgets.

The amazing thing is that there has never been a time when people have been as determined to help others in need. And folks are in need.

Every town and every country has men, women and children lacking the most basic necessities. And, at the same time, every neighbourhood still tries to meet social, educational and cultural demands that make life a little more human, a little more meaningful.

Here are a couple of people who have decided to take time to do good:

• Jean Zecha has grandchildren to care for, but makes time to volunteer at a soup kitchen once a month. She says, "I don't feel that I'm especially talented or outgoing, but I can give of myself - and that is what faith is all about, sharing of one's time and self."
• James O'Neill attends town meetings, writes letters and makes phone calls to let politicians know his views. "Why?" he says. "I believe it is a part of living out my faith and showing concern for the poor and voiceless.

  "I want to do something" has become a common expression of the desire to reach out to others, to give of one's self. I won't pretend carving time out of your schedule for what is service to others will be easy, but I guarantee it will be worth it.

• "The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve." - Albert Schweitzer
• "Not everybody could be famous, but everybody can be great because greatness is determined by service." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

(For a free copy of the Christopher News Note, Being a Good Neighbour, write: The Christophers, 12 East 48 St., New York, NY, 10017; or e-mail: mail@christophers.org.)

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