Donate to Blah Blah Blah
"Do you want to donate $2 to the blah blah blah?"
The all-too-familiar words on retail kiosks these days. You're just trying to pay for your sandwich, then get solicited for a donation along the way. We're getting to the point where many of us get these kinds of solicitations daily.
One of our podcast listeners recently reached out to me, asking for my opinion about these micro-solicitations. In short, since I speak so frequently and passionately about generosity, do I participate in this type of giving?
Short answer: No
Long answer: Not a chance
I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with these solicitations. However, I think there's an important concept we each need to keep in mind. Giving is personal. I'm called to give where I'm called to give; you're called to give where you're called to give; and so on. Some of these micro-solicitations are for noble and just causes, but I've been called to and have chosen to prioritize my giving dollars elsewhere.
If we elect to give to one of these micro-solicitations out of a sense of obligation, that's called guilt. Guilt-driven giving is toxic for our soul. If we choose to give out of a sense of guilt, it strips us of one of the key components of generosity: joy. Guilt is the antithesis of joy, and joyless giving lacks a generous spirit. As such, I NEVER participate in these micro-solicitations.
I'm not proclaiming there's a right or wrong here, but rather arguing that if you are feeling guilt, that's probably not a worthy investment of your giving. This not only applies to micro-solicitations, but all forms of giving: fundraisers, non-profits, personal requests, etc. All of these can be amazing......for someone. That someone might be you, but if not, it's not.
Give joyfully and sacrificially. Make it part of your life, part of you. Lean into it with reckless abandon. Don't just let it be something you do; let it become part of your identity. But please, please, please, never allow guilt to influence your giving decisions. Not even the $2 for blah blah blah.
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As I was writing this, Sarah looked at my screen and exclaimed, “You HAVE to include the South Park clip!!!” Well played, Sarah, well played:
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