Once upon a time, a family decided to make their home far away from the clutter of a neighborhood, town, or city. So, they decided to build their home in the middle of a desert and became self-sufficient and self-reliant in providing their needs. They took care of themselves, each other, and their environment with loving care and concern. One day, a stranger wandering in the desert came to the front door of their home. When he knocked on the door, the family saw this stranger who looked hungry and confused. They invited him to have a meal with them and to offer a place to rest before continuing on his journey or going home. The family was so kind, caring, and willing to share what they had with this person. After the stranger had stayed for awhile, he said was ready to return home, and thanked the family for being so generous. Life went back to business as usual for the family which continued to take care of themselves, each other, and their environment with loving care and concern. Every once in a while, however, another stranger would stumble open their home...and each time, the family was as generous, kind, and giving, because it was in their nature to be that way. Theres always enough to eat in our big pot of stew, the mother would say. We love to share what we have, the father would agree. And the children smiled happily, nodded their heads, with eyes shining bright. Along the way, a stray dog also found its way to their household, and because the family was so kind and loving, that dog was immediately adopted to become the familys pet, an additional playmate for the children who loved to run and play fetch with the dog outdoors. As time went by, more and more strangers stopped by at their place! Somehow, they had heard about this family who was so gracious, so giving, and so sharing. People wanted to come and see for themselves if there were people in this world who welcomed total strangers into their midst---feeding them, providing shelter, companionship, and genuine kindness with such grace. Soon, however, the frequency of total strangers arriving at their doorstep became an occurrence that swelled into a line of wanderers coming to their home for as far as the eye could see! The strangers were coming, one-after-the-next, all wanting to experience what it would be like to be treated with genuine love and concern. The mother soon found herself having to prepare 2 pots of stew....and then 3....and then 4, until she was up to having to cook 10 pots of stew daily. The abundance of cows, pigs, chickens, sheep, and goats they once had all wound up in the pots of stew that had to be cooked. The garden could not keep up with the potatoes, carrots, onions, and string beans needed for the stew. The oven cooking all the bread needed to feed the strangers soon broke down. Even the dog had to go....because the children were afraid it would wind up in the stew if it stayed around any longer. Finally, the family stopped opening their door to strangers. They could no longer share what they had. The choice between being self-reliant and self-sufficient competed with the desire to share what ever they had with others.............. Is this the dilemma the USA now faces with the arrival of so many looking for compassionate care and a chance to survive, and the USA being unprepared to provide the demand for such services and amenities for ALL? Lets not look at this scenario as something that is either-or. Some how, some way, we need to find a balance--- a means by which there is a shared responsibility between the family and the strangers at the door to combine collaborative efforts and arrangements to arrive at solutions. One cannot be the constant giver for the other to be the constant receiver. Resources will be depleted and resentments will flourish. By ALL becoming involved and engaged in meeting and providing basic needs by contributing their time, talents, abilities, and fair share of taking on responsibilities, steps in the appropriate directions scan be realized. The time has come for us to kokua and pitch in. Its the pono way and thing to do.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 17:15:45 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015