The Giving Gifts Begins!
There's nothing harder to write than a first blog post. So instead of writing something cool, or insightful, or even witty, I'm going to write something so dreadfully boring, people will appreciate that I took the time out of my day to write a blog post, but no one will actually be able to finish reading, because it's very difficult to read whilst asleep. Here's a story.
Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Clark. He was very dull, and he partook in many boring activities daily. He brushed his teeth, he wore clothes, he worked 40 hours a week, and he even took naps. He was the epitome of excitement. That last sentence was dripping with sarcasm. Anyways, one day, boring old Clark gets a text message from non-boring Cassidy. Let me pause really quick, and reflect upon the utter non-boringness of Cassidy. She was an avid fan of unique and exciting activities like skipping rocks, walking to the grocery store, and writing letters to her friends in blood. That should be enough to paint a fairly accurate picture of her. So back to the story, she texted Clark one day, and requested that he join her in an activity that didn't quite fit in with Clark's wonderful boring utopia. It was a semester-long class called Perspectives on Global Missions. (I realize, as a boring person, I made that class sound exceedingly boring in that last sentence. Okay literary critics that are definitely reading this, I'll stop using the word boring so much.) Well, Clark read that text message, and instead of his default "no" that he has set up as his default response to anything Cassidy asks him, he decided to say yes.
If you happened to read our story, or listened to us tell it, you'll recognize that first text and the subsequent response may have been the beginning of the Giving Gifts. There are quite a few key moments that had to happen for this organization to even exist as it does now, but I recognize this one as the first one. Reflecting on little moments like these are a favorite hobby of mine. I believe that the tiny moments, and some of the random little interactions we have daily, will do the most to shape the course of our lives. I realize now that I went a very roundabout way of getting to this point, but I want to emphasize the little moments, be it an awkward interaction you have with a stranger in the line at the grocery store, your monthly haircut appointment, or, in my case, a random text from a friend. Who knows, each of these small interactions may have an incredible opportunity hidden within them, and it's how you respond and react to those situations that may reveal it.
Our goal is to make the Giving Gifts feel like a family. We want to include our local community on our triumphs, our struggles, and our hilarious antics, and an active blog is a step towards that goal. We are going to be sharing every single story, we will give updates on our activity, and occasionally we'll write something to make you think, laugh, or reflect. Stories are what connect us, teach us, and inspire action. As the story of The Giving Gifts continues and grows, we hope you'll follow along.
So consider yourself officially invited on this adventure with us. We hope you find yourself asking deeper questions and challenging whatever mindset you may feel trapped in. We are committed to sharing our perspectives on how this moving in our own lives and the lives around us as The Giving Gifts continues to unfold.
- Clark