Charity / Welwillendheid en liefdadigheid


DEDICATED TO MY THREE BLOG FOLLOWERS

“In necessary things, unity; in disputed things, liberty; in all things, charity.”

This was the motto of the nonconformists in the 17th-century. Our focus will, however, be on the final part, that of charity and not on nonconformism. John Stuart Mill (a British philosopher-economist) said that as for charity, it is a matter in which the immediate effect on the persons directly concerned, and the ultimate consequence to the general good, are apt to be at complete war with one another. Confusing? Well, Mill is correct, because this may sometimes be the case. There are those who will argue that charity tends to propagate poverty, but charity isn't always giving things of monetary value to the needy. No, charity starts at home, and from there it is bestowed, without reserve, onto others. Charitable giving is considered to be the act of giving not only tangible goods, but even things more precious, such as time, to those who need it. Charity can also be practised either in a direct manner, or by means of another worthy cause. What a great person is he/she who takes the interests of humanity to heart by showing charity and generosity? How unfortunate then that some find it so hard to have compassion, finding it hard to give to those in emotional and physical poverty? Don’t ever think that what you are doing is just a drop in the ocean, the fact remains that if that drop was not in the ocean, then the ocean would be worse off because of that missing drop. Drop by drop you can fill this world with love by being charitable: physically and mentally – never forget that. 

Don’t keep back
in dishing out copious amounts of charity!
Do it continuously, don’t give slack,
And you will see how this could set you free.
   
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“In dinge van belang – eenheid; in dinge van dispuut – vryheid; in all ander dinge – welwillendheid & liefdadigheid.”

Hierdie was die leuse van die 17de-eeuse andersdenkendes (nonkonformiste). My focus vandag is op – jip, reg geraai…. welwillendheid. John Stuart Mill (‘n Britse filosoof-ekonoom) het die volgende gesê aangaande welwillendheid: dit is ‘n saak waarin die onmiddelike uitkoms (gevolg) op die persoon teenoor wie welwillend opgetree word, en die algemene uitwerking op die algemene goeie van die wêreld is, gewoonlik in algehele konflik met mekaar is. Verwarrend? Well, Mill is heeltemal reg, want dit is wel soms die geval. Vrygewigheid en liefdadigheid kan soms ‘n slegter uitwerking op die meerderheid hê as wat dit goed doen jeens die person op wie dit uitgestort word. Daar is diegene wie argumenteer dat liefdadigheid geneigd is om armoede en elende aan te wakker. My punt vandag is dat welwillendheid en liefdadigheid nie altyd bewys hoef te word in terme van monetêre middele (geldmeganismes en tasbare dinge) nie. Welwillendheid en liefdadigheid kan in soveel ander maniere beoefen word. Ten eerstens begin welwillendheid en liefdadigheid by die huis, vandaar kan jy dit uitgiet op andere, sonder voorbehoud. Wees meer welwillend en liefdadig met jou tyd, jou geduld, jou goeie geaardheid. Gee raad en wees ‘n steunpilaar as dit moet. Leer mense eerder hoe om vis te vang, as om vis vir hulle te gee. Daar is mensie wie meer emosioneel en fisies honger is, as iets anders. Moet ook nooit dink dat die bietjie wat jy gaan doen, te min gaan wees en nie ‘n verskil gaan maak nie. Dit mag vir jou net ‘n drupel in die oseaan wees, maar onthou, sonder daardie drupel is die oseaan slegter daaraan toe as wat dit met daardie drupel is, en dit is druppels wat emmers volmaak!
JY kan hierdie wêreld fisies en psigies beter maak – drupel vir drupel…

Pak die bul by die horings, ek meen, druppels by die emmer …
Moet nie dat onwilligheid jou belemmer!
Welwillendheid en liefdadigheid kan die wêreld beter maak,
al wat dit verg is dat jy jouself oor hierdie saak, traak...

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