#GIVING50: Building Capacity through Service

Photo Credit: Lannis Waters / Palm Beach Post Staff Writer        

Hurricanes Harvey and Irma left a path of destruction in their wakes. Lives, homes, ways of living and ways of life have been lost, ruined, forever changed,
 
I am deeply grateful that the worst-case scenarios – including apocalyptic storm surges and significantly higher death tolls from Irma – never materialized. And I am so very aware of the millions of people mourning, and facing recovery and rebuilding of homes and lives – efforts that could last years.
 
My 50th birthday fell on Sept. 11th, a day after Irma hit Florida, and, of course, the day of the terror attack on the U.S. in 2001. 
 
Since the world changed in 2001, and now with the wrath of Irma in 2017, I attempt to hold 9/11 in a greater embrace of shadow and light. We will never forget these tragedies, and – at least for me – Sept. 11th will always be a day of joy and gratitude, too.
 
There is room in our hearts to hold both “beauty and terror,” as the German poet Rilke put it.

One way to build that heart capacity is through service.
 
Service offers us a chance to cultivate a more expansive spirit of inclusiveness, solidarity, connection and healing by giving of ourselves to each other. We can sow peace and deepen the common bonds of humanity by focusing on Love.
 
And one way to be of service to those in immediate need to is to GIVE.
 
If you are on the ground in Texas, Florida or the Caribbean, and you are giving your time, energy, skills, I humbly and deeply thank you.
 
If you are further away and are looking for some way to be of service, please consider joining #GIVING50, an endeavor to raise awareness and money for a world in need.
 
Through this project I'm inviting people near and far to give any amount of money to any charity or person in need. The only stipulation is that the amount of money should have the number "50" in it – a small nod to my 50th birthday. 
 
Any time during the month of September, please join #GIVING50.
 
Give anything from 50 cents to 50,000 dollars, euros or pounds. The amount is irrelevant. The important element is participation.
 
After you've made your donation, please let me know, by email or social media, using the hashtag #GIVING50. There's no need to include the amount of your gift – just let me know you're in.
 
With deep gratitude and much LOVE.