Letters of the Heart – April 2014

In a recent report by Oxfam (January 2014), a researcher pointed out a startling conclusion about wealth. He did a simple calculation. He totaled the income of the poorest half of the world—all 3.5 billion people. Then he looked at the world’s wealthiest people one by one.

Starting at the top, he added their income until it equaled the income of the poorest half of our population. The number of wealthy people required to equal the income of 3.5 billion people? Just 85. Oxfam ranks widening income disparities as the second greatest worldwide risk in the coming 12 to 18 months.

With such a challenge, I am reminded to do some small part for the greater good. The following story carries a wonderful point at the end.

A woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream.The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime.

But a few days later he came back and gave the stone back to the woman. “I’ve been thinking,” he said. “I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious.”

“What could I give you that is more precious than this stone?” asked the woman.

“Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone.”

We in the middle have little enough to give, but like the woman in the story, perhaps the more precious gift is our willingness to give what we can.

Who in your current or early life deserves your appreciation? This March as we’re coming out of financial crisis around the world, there is much to give thanks for. Don’t forget those who’ve made you possible.

Sincerely,