Friday after work, my fiancé and I met up with some friends to celebrate the week’s end. We had great fellowship and conversation with a couple of my coworkers who are both around the same age as my father. One of the men was my good friend and coworker, Michael Owen Finnigan, from Atlanta, Georgia.
Many of you know that I was recently arrested for having a “big heart” in the Muscular Dystrophy’s Executive Lock-Up which is their annual fundraiser for local children who suffer from Muscular Dystrophy. What many of you do not know is that Michael Finnigan was the individual who pledged the most money towards helping me raise my MDA Bail (my fundraising efforts). He is one of the most kind-hearted and generous men that you will ever meet, and I am extremely grateful for his help and friendship. I know the children who will directly benefit from his generosity are even more grateful.
Somehow the topic of fear and danger came up in our conversation, and I immediately remembered a story that helped me remember how we should best deal with those two issues. The conversation reminded me of a story I overheard on a beautiful tropical island last New Year’s. My fiancé is from that beautiful island, and every year we spend New Year’s there with her family. At a big family gathering she asked her grandfather what he had been up to lately. He responded by telling her that he had been driving around the island looking for homeless people for which he could buy a warm meal. My fiancé immediately became defensive, “Grandfather No! You should not be doing that because you could end up getting robbed or killed!” He looked down at her and with a calming voice explained, “I have no control over life and death, God is the one who is in control of those things!” His response hit home, and really stuck with me. This is a man who still gets up on the roof to do his own repair work at 80 years old. He is a very wise man who was an extremely successful international salesman. To this day he is an active participant in his local Rotary Club Chapter, primarily because of the many community service opportunities the club affords him.
I decided to share this story with Michael because it seemed to add great perspective to the discussion at hand. After I told Michael the story, my fiancé immediately began defending the initial position she had taken with her grandfather. She continued to focus on the dangers of him interacting with homeless people on a daily basis. After letting her finish making her points, Michael looked at her and said, “Here is the difference between me and your grandfather. When I donate money to help Daniel in his efforts to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, I really want to help someone. Once I donate the money, how do I know where it ends up? Is the money really going to help the kids, or is it going to be used to fund an MDA Executive’s family trip to Europe? The difference between me and your grandfather is that he KNOWS he is helping someone, whereas I only HOPE I’m helping.”
This perspective really led me to an important paradigm shift, and I hope that it also causes you to think about things in a different light. We should all reflect upon our daily activities, and think about how we help those in need. Then answer the following question. Do I KNOW that I am helping, or do I only HOPE that I am helping?
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” (Matthew 22:36 NIV). Jesus replied, ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40 NIV)
Are we honoring God by faithfully keeping his two most important commandments?
Daniel Edd Bland III
P.S. I came across this song recently and wanted to share it with the entire world. The lyrics seem to speak directly to my soul and to the journey I have been on over the last year. The lyrics are posted below the video so you can read along as you listen. Enjoy!
Wheels Lyrics: by the Foo Fighters
I know what you’re thinkin’
We were goin’ down
I can feel the sinkin’
But then I came around
And everyone I’ve loved before
Flashed before my eyes
And nothin’ mattered anymore
I looked into the sky
Well I wanted something better man
I wished for something new
And I wanted something beautiful
I wished for something true
Been lookin’ for a reason man
Something to lose
When the wheels come down (When the wheels come down)
When the wheels touch ground (When the wheels touch ground)
And you feel like it’s all over
There’s another round for you
When the wheels come down (When the wheels come down)
I know your head is spinnin’
Broken hearts will mend
This is our beginning
Comin to an end
Well, you wanted something better man
You wished for something new
Well, you wanted something beautiful
Wished for something true
Been lookin for a reason man
Something to lose
When the wheels come down (When the wheels come down)
When the wheels touch ground (When the wheels touch ground)
And you feel like it’s all over
There’s another round for you
When the wheels come down (When the wheels come down)
Oh!
When the wheels come down (When the wheels come down)
When the wheels touch ground (When the wheels touch ground)
And you feel like it’s all over
There’s another round for you
When the wheels come down (When the wheels come down)
When the wheels come down (When the wheels come down)
When the wheels touch ground (When the wheels touch ground)
And you feel like it’s all over
There’s another round for you
When the wheels come down (When the wheels come down)