Witches, Christians, Atheists, All: what is the best act of charity you did?

Question

Please let me know what is your spiritual path, pagan, Jewish, Christian, Witch, WIccan, atheist, etc....

please let me know what act of charity, big or small, you did and how you felt when you did it.

Answer 1

Several years ago, a bunch of Fundamentalist christians came to my house and burned a cross in my front yard, slashed the tires on my vehicle and scratched Bible verses in the paint on the car, and spray painted anit-Witch grafiti on my house. They were ALL caught and at their trial, I forgave them and asked the judge to ONLY sentence them to repair the damage that they did to my property. He agreed and they did all the work to undo the damage that they did. Their Pastor joined them and others of his congregation came and helped as well. Today we ALL get along just fine, there's NO animosity among us at all and they now understand that Wicca is NOT the Evil that they once thought it was. So I guess MY act of love was to save them EACH from serving a year in jail. And I was rewarded many times over for that act of love.

My path should NOW be obvious to you, just in case it isn't I am a Witch. I feel that MY act of forgiveness enabled THEM to learn and come to understand that being different is not necessarily Evil, just different. That there are many ways to worship Deity and that whatever works to achieve that end is BOUND to be good.

Raji the Green Witch

Answer 2

Atheist here. Many years ago, I became friends with a young woman who was still living with her mother and was regularly being sexually abused by her step-father. To help her escape, my wife and I, and another couple, paid for room, board, and tuition at a Seattle art college and even bought her bus ticket there. We were nothing more than four regular customers at a restaurant where she worked part-time, so she was totally flabbergasted when we held a small ceremony and presented her with a full-ride "scholarship" to her dream art school. It was such a good feeling to help someone with so much potential escape her dismal situation and turn her life around. Two years later, we received notice of her graduation and felt like proud parents. Lately, we learned that her own daughter has graduated from high school and will be attending the same art school this fall. Time marches on......

Answer 3

I'm not sure what my best act of charity was because only the person receiving could tell of the impact it made. So, they are all important. I am so thankful for what I have and will always give to others. I will say that as far as charitable organizations go, I give to St. Jude's Children's Hospital every month, have for years and they are in my will. I cannot think of a better use of money than helping children live.

Christian

God Bless.

Answer 4

Let me preface this response by saying that I'm agnostic.

Also, I'm not sure that my answer is the kind of response that you're looking for but, for what it's worth:

One afternoon, quite some time ago, I was watching some TV in my living room when I heard a commotion coming from outside.
When I got to my front door I looked across the street and there was this guy who was beating this dog with a golf club.
I stood at the door for a moment, trying to figure out just what was going on, -
and I saw a bunch of people staring through their doorways and windows and, - though they appeared quite shocked by this display of cruelty, - they were going to do nothing.
I hurriedly crossed the street, all the while yelling at the guy to stop beating the dog.
When I got close enough to him, he took a swing at me with the club, and it tagged me on my right brow.
His next swing wasn't so unexpected, and I managed to take it away from him and throw it into his neighbor's yard.

....I then proceeded to kick the living Hell out of him.

In the end, I had to get 13 stitches; 9 in my right brow,...
... and 4 on a knuckle on my right hand (what can I say; the guy had some sharp teeth).

I also had to deal with a few minor legalities but, interestingly enough, many of those same people who just stood there and watched finally did something:
They all made statements to the cops which, thankfully, weighed in favor of my actions...

A lot of trouble for a dog, one might say, --- and I imagine one might be right about that, - I care quite a bit for animals; moreso than I do people, I guess.

I was going to take the dog for my own but, sadly, it did not make it.

I've often felt somewhat guilty about that fact:
And even now, these many years later,...
I am still awakened on some nights by that dog's pained howls,--- and I just lie there for a while, sometimes a very long while,...
thinking how that dog just might've lived had I not stopped for those precious few seconds to ponder the expressions of those faces in the doorways and windows.

I suppose I'm rambling now...
In fact, I would wager that, given it's length, many may not even bother to read this post...:-))

No matter...;-)

My point for telling this story is simply this:
When your help is needed then it doesn't really matter what you do, - as long as you at least try to do something; in my opinion, that's the best charity that there is.

I apologize for the verbosity...
-

Answer 5

Personally, I would find it more the opposite. I find it sad that I can't say Merry Christmas to someone in a public place for fear of offending someone that I'm not even talking to. I don't force my beliefs on anyone, although I'm very secure in my faith. I will be happy to rationally discuss it with anyone, even those that don't believe and explain why I believe the way that I do. I have raised my children according to my beliefs and brought them to church with me, however they are able to make their own decisions as to their own faith and whether or not they go to church. I can still pray for them and for anyone else if I choose. I will say that there are many that call themselves Christians, but their actions say that they are only Christians on Sunday, which is sad. They judge, they gossip, etc. Being a Christian is easy to do. Try to be the best person you can be, believe that there is a reason for everything and that we are not supposed to understand everything that happens--we are supposed to learn something from everything that happens. Whether that lesson is simply to leave a bad relationship, to trust someone, to find another job, etc. we just have to be ready to walk through the door when it opens. I know that my opinion is just that...my opinion. You can take it or leave it as you choose.

Answer 6

I'm a witch. When I moved out of California, I left a lot of things behind, giving away books, CDs, toys, dolls, games, clothing, fabric, patterns, buttons, sewing machine, furniture, cookware, dishes, etc. I would do more, but I'm pretty strapped for resources. I felt great when I did it, because finally someone was going to get some use out of all the things I had kept "because they will be useful someday." I did accidentally give away and/or sell a few things I wish I had kept, but that's inevitable under such circumstances. I lightened my load, and somebody got a lot of useful stuff.

Answer 7

I am Christian. I was a Correctional Officer for 5 years. There were several times that I cam out of my job requirements to show those incarcerated that love is the greatest gift that anyone can give. I felt as if there was one soul that was saved by that, then my purpose is being met.

Answer 8

I have done many. Give food and clothes to the homeless. Worked at a soup kitchen and a food distribution place for the poor. I do it because it is the right thing to do. Donated money. Adopted a child through the christian children's fund (yes!)
When I'm dead my body will be donated to science.
Atheist

Answer 9

Charity, for the most part, creates a vicious cycle of poverty. It is far better to teach people, than to give handouts. They may suffer in the short term, but their descendants will be able to fend for themselves.

(PS - to the responder before me, that was an act of bravery, not charity.)

Answer 10

I don't practice a religion.

I adopted a Japanese orphan that was previously sold into Sex Slavery. She only spoke Czechoslovakian, very long twisted story, but she's pretty screwed up. Anyway, I wanted her to come and be a part of my family. Ever try teaching a Japanese girl that only speak Czech English. I better be going to heaven.