Have a no-hypocrisy Christmas

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Of course Christmas is a very opportune time – and excuse – to show off how much we love the poor. How much we dote on our househelp and drivers. How generous we are to orphans and the elderly in old folks homes. How brave we are to go into the bowels of jails and filthy slum areas just to give our Christmas packages!

Not to forget the pictures, the pictures, the pictures. First on the must-do-their-jobs list are the designated photographers. Makalimutan na ang lahat, wag lang ang designated photographers. Because how else can we present “evidence” that “we were there being so kind to the poor. Can you see how kind and generous we are?”

This is not to put a damper on your plans to whip up a marvelous party for your helpers and staff, or for your favorite charity. It’s to remind us, early on, to check our motives. Are we doing this for show? Or are we doing this because we sincerely want to share our blessings with those who have less in life?

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When we post those pictures of us serving the poor, serving others – what’s the intention behind it? Are we doing it as an exhibition of our saintly generosity – or as a celebration of being able to give because we have been given a lot in life?

This reminds me of a well-loved story that someone shared with me decades ago. He said that he belonged to a group of long-time friends who were born wealthy. In an immersion program of their university, they had to live in a very poor community for a month at least.

They lived and worked as the people did in that village. They ate what their adoptive families ate. There were no toilets. No running water. No electricity. Imagine the rest of this scenario.

The aftermath for these young, rich, carefree, “platinum and silver spoons in their mouths” young men was incredible.

They resolved to do something for the poor for the rest of their lives. Both in individual and collective capacities. Their big protocol was this: NEVER to be seen or identified in pictures or coverages of their charity events. They didn’t want to take the credit for their good works.

He said that it just made them feel at peace that they weren’t doing this for show. He said it was a sure and efficient way to keep their impure motives in check.

He also said that he understands, though, why it’s important that organizations who support the poor should “advertise” their good works. Donors must see where their donations are going. But if you’re not in that kind of advocacy, he said that it’s better to remain anonymous – to have a hypocrisy-free celebration!

I certainly heard him loud and clear: check your motives. And it sure doesn’t hurt to put fail-safe mechanisms that’ll remove any impure ones.

Bottom line, when we do anything to help the poor, our helpers, our staff, our favorite charities – for heaven’s sake and our own sakes – let’s NOT do it for show.

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