By Lissy Maruthanakuzhy
Panaji: It was during lockdown last year I began to look at some YouTube presentations and got fascinated by some of the bloggers. I noticed that many individuals, students and families had turned to or had intensified the use of this medium as an income generating social media.
Their contents covered from stories of artist in remote areas who are unknown to the outside world, bungalows with exceptional architecture, travels or village cooking. Some had amazingly resorted to sharing their everyday life in the family which seems to help them make a large family, or global village. They have also built-up relationships with exchange of gifts and personal gifts. Some bloggers have also offered assistance to those who have approached them for help economically.
As we began May this year I got a YouTube on Rosary with a request to watch and share, for monetization. Even if you do not watch every day at least put it on, I was suggested. I was not pleased with the intention. Pray and share, yes, and if monetization happens in the process, it is good; but I felt that I ought not watch it only for the purpose of monetization.
I thought of what Pope Francis said in his book Let us Dream, “A humanity impatient with the limits that nature teaches, is a humanity that has failed to master the power of technology. In other words, technology has ceased to be our instrument and has become our overlord…..Our sin lies in failing to recognize value, in wanting to possess and exploit that which we do not value as a gift. The sin is in exploiting what must not be exploited, in extracting wealth (power of satisfaction) from where it should not be taken.”
Listening to many social workers and those working at the periphery with the marginalized, I understand, they move out to help with limited resources. The light of a lamp spreads ; it does not restrict itself to a certain space. Thus, the hands stretched out to help those in difficult situations, spread around rays of compassion, attracting resources, as a honeybee is attracted to flowers.
Any programs done primarily for the benefit of others, will attract resources, for the activity to continue; it can be our physical or online service.
We see it in our own days.
Doctor Victor Emmanuel has been treating the poor at his clinic in Hyderabad for 10 rupees since 2018. He is a good example for reaching out to the needy.
Over the last one year, the clinic has treated over 20,000 to 25,000 Covid patients, he said.
How could he run a clinic with so little charges? He answers, “Initially we were hesitant to run a clinic that charged patients 10 rupees. However, as people started to identify with the cause behind this clinic, they started showing up and now the project is “for the patients and by the patients”.
He charges 10 rupees and not treat patients totally free so that the patients preserve their self-respect. “I charge them 10 rupees because I don’t want the patients to think that they are being treated out of mercy. They walk in the clinic, pay 10 rupees get themselves checked and walk out happily without feeling that someone showed mercy to them.”
He disclosed his plan to open a charitable hospital to extend the 10 rupee treatment to a much larger number of people. All this because he took the first step to reach out.
Erik Pevernagie , a Belgian painter and writer explains, “As we inhale soothing wellbeing through the radiant glow of an unsuspected lighthouse in the dark stormy nights of our life, we can come to feel the exhilarating rhythm of our heartbeat, finding compassion with ourselves and at one time reaching out to all the others.”
Franciscan Missionaries of Mary Sister Lizzy Chakkalakal, who since 2012builds houses for the poor families of her students, under “House Challenge,” began with small contributions from her students and teachers. They sacrificed the birthday celebrations and wedding anniversaries and contributed towards House Challenge.
Seeing her work people began to contribute. She says, “There are businessmen who give materials or money. The government also supports us. Our former students, teachers are also active participants. We also get donations from philanthropists. Employers from different departments, such as police, social service associations and clubs, also share part of their salaries. As a whole, we create a culture of sharing and caring. House Challenge survives merely on sharing.”
Sister Chakkalakal is confident that any time the project ran out of cash, a donor would “knock at our door.”
“As Jesus said, ‘It is ask and you shall receive,’” said the nun who will soon be handing over another house to a needy family.
“No one has ever become poor by giving,” said Anne Frank a German girl and Jewish victim of the Holocaust who kept a diary of her experiences.
“At times we feel outnumbered in our attempts to improve the world—to brighten and beautify, to preserve and heal and do what’s best for humanity. Selfless efforts can start to feel beleaguering, discouraging, even pointless with so little support. It is at these times I remind myself that I would rather be the last Good Samaritan standing than to join the ranks of selfish multitudes creating misery,” says Richelle E. Goodrich, a Novelist and Poet.