Fund raising of any kind truly is not my favorite subject. Mostly because I understand how sensitive even the subject of money is to most households.
For many years, mine included.
Yet, money truly has become the blood that keeps things alive. Which to me is truly sickening…
In part because I know that people in America love “stuff”. Let me rephrase that… are obsessed with material “treasures”. Spending is just about as entertaining as sports, and often more satisfying, growing debt and now an economy that is in desperate need of more $$ and more ringing check stands have we not gotten the picture yet? We are feeding a beast, one we are afraid of and love at the same time.
The Green eyed monster.
I look at myself for this …
Donate to church to help fund what I believe in… or buy a latte every day for the next month?
Hummm… latte very yummy, love the caffeine, oh and it is so fun to have my little coffee cup and “fit in” with all the others around me. A sense of feminine independence in a little paper cup with little plastic straws… a dessert, a privilege every morning.
Or… make a conscious effort… which means energy, and time into not spending the money and donating it to church so that they can buy eh… more electricity? Okay… I like electricity but eh…
If I flip back a few years into my foundation of relgious adventures I find myself back in a setting where I was eh… convinced and eh… guilt tripped into investing my time, talents and $$$$$$ that the church and GOD because I was told to value my faith, my service and love for God and give accordingly after much kneeling praying and a little budgeting…
This scene really isn’t possible in a UU church… for one reason there is 99% less guilt at our church… so 1% of guilt might get you enough for a few days of electricity but it won’t support a 40 THOUSAND DOLLAR Sound system for the sanctuary…
So… what is the motivation… what convinces those not let me say this nicely people that have not been threatened with hot boiling lava for enternity to dig deeper and fund what they “say” they care about?
Good question.
