Charitable acts

[stewart edwards]

Sort of a straw pole really, not a willy waving exercise, but I am curious as to how much people here get their hands dirty with helping others, in any form. Are the masons or the non masons most active in this regard or about the same? So here is my question, what are the three most recent things that you did to help others in a direct way.

For me I would guess:-

1. Yesterday buying a homlessman lunch (sandwich, pure orange drink,grapes and crisps) as well as the Big issue.

2. Bit of a cop out this one, but going to a street fair and enjoying myself while buying raffle tickets.

3. A week ago buying another homelessman lunch, a camping roll mat (he was sitting on a plastic bin liner on a cold street), and gloves. Poor bloke welled up almost in tears.

[lightgiver]

Sort of a straw pole really, not a willy waving exercise, but I am curious as to how much people here get their hands dirty with helping others, in any form. Are the masons or the non masons most active in this regard or about the same? So here is my question, what are the three most recent things that you did to help others in a direct way.

For me I would guess:-

1. Yesterday buying a homlessman lunch (sandwich, pure orange drink,grapes and crisps) as well as the Big issue.

2. Bit of a cop out this one, but going to a street fair and enjoying myself while buying raffle tickets.

3. A week ago buying another homelessman lunch, a camping roll mat (he was sitting on a plastic bin liner on a cold street), and gloves. Poor bloke welled up almost in tears.

Could you imagine what the world would be like if everyone carried out selfless acts,

Giving without wanting to receive,I call that pure altruism.

Good post stewart :)

Altruism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[stewart edwards]

Lightgiver

Its not rocket science. People have helped me in my times of need, and I help others in theirs. Over the past half decade or so I have invested a lot of time into helping others, even refusing expenses with one youth organisation to the annoyance of some "apparently I should play the game for it doesnt look good if some dont claim"

On a monthly basis I probably buy lunch for 5 or 6 homeless people. I talk to them a bit, buy the big issue. Sometimes, when I can, I give them more. Once I get my own personal finances sorted I will be paying for some overnight accomodation for some now and again.

Any one of us is just a job loss, and/or divorce away from being homeless, or even something as simple as leaving the forces can do it. It is a lot closer to each and every one of us than most realise.

Let me tell you a true story about a Big Issue seller. He was sitting there one day selling the mag. I stopped to buy one. He was rolling a cigy and put his tin down open, in the strong wind to serve me. At that moment in time all that mattered to him was putting me first, before his prized treasure of loose tobacco. Now I am anti smopking but this selfless act by him, that could easily have cost him his sole pleasure for the coming week, spoke volumes to me. That is real character.

One time I only had a penny on me, litterally a penny, and I said to this homeless man that he was welcome to it and he took it. I saw him about half an hour later and he was tossing it in the air looking happier. Ordinarily I dont give money though for I have been scammed in the past and there is the possibility of it going on drugs and booze. But I am not adverse to buying clothes etc.

Come on I cant be the only person here who directly helps others. Sharing what you do can promote ideas.

[lightgiver]

Come on I cant be the only person here who directly helps others. Sharing what you do can promote ideas.


There are many who help others directly and in directly.:)

Who provides us with our basic necessities ie food, water,hospitals, library's, internet,the electric coming into our homes,the list is endless,

OTHERS provide all these,even our bodies were provided because of others.

Its that easy.:)(to understand)

but it appears there are some who take advantage of this great kindness.:(

[boots]

YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW









Good morning said a woman as she walked up to the man sitting on ground.







The man slowly looked up.

This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new.. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life.

His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before.. "Leave me alone," he growled....

To his amazement, the woman continued standing.

She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. "Are you hungry?" she asked.

"No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away."

The woman's smile became even broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm.

! < /B>"What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone.

Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked..

"No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?"

The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"

"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile."

"Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. "Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything."






" This is a good deal for you, Jack" the officer answered. "Don't blow it."

Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived...

The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked. "What is all this, is this man in trouble?"

"This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.

"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business.."

Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place."
The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled... "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?"

"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms."

"And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?"

"What business is that of yours?"

I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company."

"Oh."

The woman smiled again. "I thought that might make a difference." She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a giggle. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?"

! < /B>"No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty."

"Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?"





"Yes, mam. That would be very nice."

The cafeteria manager turned on his heel, "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer."

The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said.

"That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this."

She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently.. "Jack, do you remember me?"

Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes. "I think so -- I mean you do look familiar."

"I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry." ! < FONT size=6>

"Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry.

"I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat."

Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said.. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy."

"I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble... Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my food in the cash register, I knew then! that ev erything would be all right."

"So you started your own business?" Old Jack said.

"I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card.. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons...He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office." She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet... If you ever need anything, my door is always opened to you."

There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he said.





"Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. Thank Jesus... He led me to you."

Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways....

"Thank you for all your help, officer," she said.

"On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And..And thank you for the coffee."

[bluehorseman]

If I do work for our old people I don't charge. This old girl got me to put up a fence and gate for her and the price was getting way up there so I got her to pay for materials then left it at that. Only down side is she keeps ringing me up for more jobs I find it hard to get out of going around there and it costs a fortune in down time but hopefully someone will be good to me in my old age.

[bluehorseman]

Does having the mother inlaw over for Xmas dinner count? That must be some sort of sacrifice?

[stewart edwards]

Boots are you able to repost "5" in a different type face as I have having difficulty reading it? I could copy it into word and do it myself, but if you do it it will help others read it as well.

Thanks.

[nioz]

]YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW[/FONT]









Good morning said a woman as she walked up to the man sitting on ground.







The man slowly looked up.

This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new.. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life.

His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before.. "Leave me alone," he growled....

To his amazement, the woman continued standing.

She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. "Are you hungry?" she asked.

"No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away."

The woman's smile became even broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm.

! < /B>"What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone.

Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked..

"No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?"

The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"

"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile."

"Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. "Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything."






" This is a good deal for you, Jack" the officer answered. "Don't blow it."

Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived...

The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked. "What is all this, is this man in trouble?"

"This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.

"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business.."

Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place."
The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled... "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?"

"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms."

"And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?"

"What business is that of yours?"

I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company."

"Oh."

The woman smiled again. "I thought that might make a difference." She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a giggle. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?"

! < /B>"No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty."

"Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?"





"Yes, mam. That would be very nice."

The cafeteria manager turned on his heel, "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer."

The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said.

"That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this."

She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently.. "Jack, do you remember me?"

Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes. "I think so -- I mean you do look familiar."

"I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry." ! < FONT size=6>

"Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry.

"I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat."

Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said.. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy."

"I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble... Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my food in the cash register, I knew then! that ev erything would be all right."

"So you started your own business?" Old Jack said.

"I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card.. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons...He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office." She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet... If you ever need anything, my door is always opened to you."

There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he said.





"Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. Thank Jesus... He led me to you."

Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways....

"Thank you for all your help, officer," she said.

"On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And..And thank you for the coffee."






beautifull! thanks for posting this