The Art of Helping Others » Poverty

Learning From the Sin of Sodom

Douglas — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:30:25 +0000

A friend of mine recently sent me a link to an article by NY Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, Learning From the Sin of Sodom. I won’t spoil you reading the entire article but it included a pop quiz:

What’s the largest U.S. based international relief and development organization? Save the Children, CARE? While both are great mainstream humanitarian organizations, it’s World Vision, a Seattle-based Christian organization, which has 40,000 staff members in almost 100 countries – more staff than Save the Children, CARE and the United States Agency for International Development – combined.

The article also includes quotes from the head of World Vision, Richard Stearns book, “The Hole in Our Gospel” and other insights from columnist Nichols Kristof. I want to encourage you to read the article and post your comments here. The Art of Helping Others: Art. Awareness. Activism.

Economic Impact on the Vulnerable

Douglas — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:00:08 +0000

While 2009 has brought the worse economic impact since the 1930′s and we all have experienced it in different ways, whether that’s struggling to pay our rent or mortgage, fear of job loss, possibly closing the doors to small businesses, or dwindling retirement accounts, there are persons that could least afford this most of all – those in extreme poverty.

Maybe it’s been a bad year for you, for me; but it’s been worse for those far less fortunate because they never had jobs to lose or enough food to feed their families.

While the poor will always be with us, let’s not let that become a mantra of acceptance or excuse to do little or next to nothing. To ignore the poor and their great need only exposes the depth of our own inner poverty.

Be an advocate of influence and an agent of change. Consider making a donation to The Art of Helping Others, or purchase an art print, T-shirt, other available merchandise or our new book to increase the funding we can contribute to charitable humanitarian organizations. Thanks for joining with us to practice the art of helping others.

Not Enough Room for Diversity

Douglas — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:51:49 +0000

A couple weeks ago I received confirmation from a well-known conservative blogger that supports charitable humanitarian causes, that he wanted to blog and tell his audience about what I’m doing in the arts with The Art of Helping Others (i.e., providing funds to charitable organisations to help the poor and marginalized).

Days later, an email arrives in my inbox from him saying that obviously we see things from different perspectives and approaches, and that he will not share with his audience about what we do. That was it – done and dusted, no other explanation. Initially, I was a bit disappointed, but really – mostly perplexed.

I’m okay not getting a mention on his blog, but idealist that I am, what troubled me most is I had hoped that in the arts, culture, faith, current events – you know, wherever or whatever direction your political, economic, geographic, religious, cause-related compass points, that ultimately, there would be room enough for diversity and discussion. Yes, feel free to pity idealists like me…

What do I take from this as I walk away and glance over my shoulder? For some people, there may be room enough for diversity in the matter of opinion – as long as it aligns with their own, but unfortunately dialogue doesn’t always seem to be a part of the process, and that is indeed a shame. Why? Because if we choose not to dialogue, how will we ever begin to understand one another and where we’re coming from.

If you’re inclined, let me know if there’s something I’ve missed. Idealistically Yours.

We Are All In The Gutter

Douglas — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 03:29:11 +0000

The Irish poet and dramatist Oscar Wilde said, “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” When I read those words, it says to me that we’re all starving beggars on the way to the banquet table and that perhaps we should come as we are, to people as they are.” What do you see in that quote?