As a child, I cherished the joy of receiving small delights every Halloween. Trick-or-treating was the undisputed highlight of fall.
I remember racing my siblings from one doorstep to the next, eagerly collecting candy from unfamiliar faces. We joined armies of kids pouring out of cars, our faces flushed and buckets overflowing.
We didn’t care that our costumes were hand-me-downs. We didn’t question our parents who drove us across town to trick-or-treat in suburban neighborhoods. We didn’t notice the contrast between those beautifully decorated houses and our modest home in the ghetto of North Minneapolis.
All that mattered was the joy we felt from receiving tiny tokens of kindness.
For those few magical hours, we were welcomed onto strangers’ front porches. They switched on their lights and opened their doors to our excited faces as we recite our well-rehearsed lines. They diligently dispensed candy into eager hands while smiling at our grateful parents.
And in those moments, we forget that things are broken.
We savor the taste of kindness and embrace a fleeting sense of hope that what we’re doing in that moment matters.
We remember what it’s like to trust one another. To give without expecting anything in return. To receive without hesitation. To enjoy goodness without guilt.
That is the essence of giving–and the reason why we do it.
Every dollar we donate, every hour we volunteer, every instance of goodwill–however small–is an expression of hope that restores our faith in humanity.
We give to remind ourselves of our need for kindness as well as the immense privilege we have in bestowing it.
We give to commemorate those who have poured into us over the years, who put their comfort aside to provide for our needs.
And we give because we’ve received more in our lifetimes than we could ever account for and now, it’s our turn to switch on the porch light.
I truly believe that philanthropy has the power to overcome misanthropy and that hope is the greatest antidote to suffering.Philanthropy has the power to overcome misanthropy and hope is the greatest antidote to suffering. Click To Tweet
As Elton John wrote in his song, Can You Feel the Love Tonight, “It’s enough to make kings and vagabonds believe the very best.”
Last October, I had a cogent moment of reflection when I looked out my window at giddy children walking up my driveway. I was reminded of my childhood in inner city Minneapolis and how far I’ve come to be a homeowner in the beautiful city of Asheville.
In that bittersweet moment, I felt like a little girl once again, all dressed up with a bucket of candy. Except this time, I’m standing on the other side of the door.
