Random Thoughts on Caring

By Roger L. Whiting

Some time ago while driving in my car I was playing a CD by Genesis -- a rock group headed by drummer and singer, Phil Collins. Usually, I just allow the music to surround me without my needing to concentrate on it. This time, however, instead of merely being absorbed in the sound, the rhythm, and the harmonies, I listened to the words of the song entitled, Tell Me Why. My reaction was so overwhelming that I played, and replayed, that song over and over again. Here are some of the words:

Mothers crying in the street,
Children dying at their feet
Tell me why…tell me why
People starving everywhere
There’s too much food, but there’s none to spare
Tell me why…oh tell me why

People sleeping in the streets…
no roof above, no food to eat
Tell me why…tell me why
You say there’s nothing you can do
Is there one rule for them, and one for you?
Tell me why…just tell me why

I was amazed at the depth of feeling and compassion so beautifully expressed by this song. Here was a contemporary rock group expressing concern and caring in an almost prayerful way. Why had I not heard the message before? Perhaps someone can…“tell me why.” On the other hand, perhaps asking “why” is the wrong question we should be asking. After all…what is, is. Instead of looking for explanations for why the current state of the world exists, we should be trying to determine what we can do about it.

The result of this experience was to elicit further introspection into my own life, my activities, and my motives. I had witnessed all of these tragedies of starvation, disease, and homelessness during my six visits to East Africa since 1996. That is one of the reasons that prompted me to found Growth Through Learning - the dream of helping to uplift some of those so much less fortunate than myself. I had realized that the important thing was for me to ask “what can I do?”

Perhaps you too have been disturbed by some of the miserable conditions that exist in Third World countries. Just think of the huge benefits to humanity if every one of us focused just a small part of our time, effort, and good fortune on someone else who is in desperate need. The people of East Africa need just about everything including food, housing, medical supplies and education. Caring about education and the empowerment of young women in East Africa is the sole mission of Growth Through Learning. We truly care about our mission. Further, the smiles and expressions of gratitude from our girls is all the reward we need.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all suddenly experienced an epidemic of loving kindness with everyone doing nice things for others? Wouldn’t hatred, malice, and road rage be diminished if we all decided to “let the other guy win”? Perhaps a peripheral effect of our caring would be a reduced dependence on material things as we acquired our peace of mind from healthy relationships and attitudes rather than a new car in the driveway.

What a relatively small thing it is to contribute to an East African girl’s education in the hope that she will become productive and self-sufficient. Without education she is destined for a life of menial jobs, poverty, and misery. Many of them will be sent off to an early marriage for which they are ill-equipped. Seldom, if ever, would one of these young women become empowered to become a leader of her community or society.

So, just what should our question be? “Tell me why?”, or “What can I do?” It simply isn’t enough for us to wring our hands in despair. We must exhibit our caring with positive action. As more and more people recognize the desirability of effecting change in the world’s poverty stricken countries, it is starting to happen. Education leads to empowerment. Empowerment leads to change. And that is what we should all be striving for.

Just think--once our needs for life’s necessities are provided, what more do we really need? I suppose there is always the urge for a new sofa or lawnmower, but aren’t those things just “stuff”? How much more satisfying would it be to send a young girl to school? That is a gift that will last a life time!

Last modified: Jul 12, 2007, 10:54 EDT