Whatever we can afford

CEBU, Philippines - It is once again that time of the year when gifts become prevalent in our thoughts. The givers try to think of something to delight their intended recipients who, for sure, also hope to get something worthwhile. Gifts are such a big part of our beautiful Christmas tradition, no matter at which end of the line we are.

Christmas gifts bring joy to both givers and receivers. Some slight anxiety arises at times, especially when the giver's budget is tight or when the gift doesn't quite match the recipient's expectation. But, overall, there is no denying the spirit of goodwill involved in the practice.

Our Christmas celebrations this year are likely to tone down somehow due to the series of calamities we've been through these past months. Many companies opt to skip their customary Christmas parties in kind thought of those in the devastated areas. They decide that the money to be spent in one night of abundant dinner and revelry is better used to help address the needs of victims.

Sympathy for the calamity victims sweeps across the land. Some people, however, withhold their help as they learn from news reports the enormity of the need. They begin to feel that whatever little they can give or do will not make the lightest scratch on the surface of the whole situation. 

True, the combined need of the devastated areas may just be beyond our individual capacities to cover. But the magnitude of the challenge shall not enervate us from taking part. Even if all we can afford to contribute is a mere cupful of drinking water that one victim needs to survive until more help comes.

An old man in a northern Cebu town was saved from imminent death by the stranger he let into his seaside home during the recent typhoon. The stranger was stranded at the port after the boat service was suspended due to the developing storm. The old man lived alone, and so there was space in his house for someone without a place to stay in such bad weather.

As big waves were soon pulling the house apart, the old man panicked. He had not seen as fierce a storm in his entire life. No longer able to think straight, he wanted to escape by jumping right into the rampaging waters outside, which certainly could have either crushed him on the big rocks by the shore or plunged him right into the depths of the angry sea.

The stranger, a much younger and stronger man, was quick to grab the old man before the wild currents could swallow him up. They wrestled for a while as the old man struggled to break free of his guest's hold. Finally, the young man was able to restrain his host by tying him to the last remaining post of the house.

As the storm subsided, the young man untied his captive. The old man was exhausted, crossed and badly bruised from the earlier tussle. But he was alive, and soon realized that his young guest actually saved his life.

Those two people gave to each other without worrying if what they could afford to give was significant enough. The old man took in the stranded fellow because it was something he could do. For his part, the young man rescued his distraught host, even against the latter's will, because it felt like the right thing to do. 

Had the young man known beforehand that he was to save the old man from imminent death at the height of a super typhoon, he probably would have turned away and gone somewhere else. It would have occurred to him to better shiver in the cold rain than pick up such huge responsibility. He would have thought himself not quite up to the task.

Many a good intention withers before it can begin to blossom into concrete action. When we start to wonder whether the good that we intend to do will matter, we lay down the first hindrance from making it happen. A kind thought is nice - but it cannot give warmth to someone out in the cold or stop somebody from jumping to his death.

The calamity victims need food to fill their hunger, clothes to keep them warm, shelter to keep them safe. No matter how hard we pray for them, they still need day-to-day provisions, medical attention, and other visible signs of our concern for them. They continue to suffer while we try to make up our minds whether to go ahead and send the little help we can afford.

Our giving is, first and foremost, about us. We care about others because it's in our nature. What we are defines what we do.

Our generosity runs by our good nature and our available means. Any help is significant, any gift valuable, if we give whatever we can afford and are happy in doing it.

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