The art of charitable giving

The time between writing a book and having it published can leave the author at the mercy of events that might suddenly make their work feel out of date, or just a bit daft. I finished writing Give months before the first cases of Covid-19 were diagnosed. I could never have imagined the happenings that have impacted our lives since. However, in this case, it feels like the altered context of our daily lives has made the central messages of the book more pertinent – although I do not take pleasure in that, given the circumstances.

“Acts of charity let light into the world. That is more obvious when they take place in the dark.” Those are the opening sentences of Give. I use the horrendous immediate aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, and the inspiring response from the local people, as an example of how each ‘darkness’ – each human crisis – is met by an outpouring of goodness and heroism.

The new darkness that has covered the earth since I wrote Give, has of course been met by an explosion of new acts of charity. All over world, little fires of goodness sparkle beautifully – and it’s true that these small acts find a way to illuminate even the gloomiest of places.

It is not only individuals who have been tested by this pandemic. Charitable organisations (also the subject of this book) have too. Our own mission of Mary’s Meals has been asked bigger questions than ever before. How do we keep going when supporters face such economic hardship and uncertainty? How do we adapt when the schools where we serve hungry children are closed? These questions have been answered in spectacular ways by the individuals with huge hearts who comprise this mission – all served by an organisation so deeply rooted in the vision and values that unite us. In a chapter of Give called ‘Mapping the Stars,’ I propose that only by knowing our values very deeply, can we stay true to our mission and guide it through difficult times.

“If we find ourselves being entrusted with being stewards and leaders of a charitable mission, let’s take some time to learn about the constellations that guide us. Let us delight in those stars and not be beguiled by others that may sometimes gleam brighter, but which cannot become a map for our particular journey. Let’s become so familiar with our own constellations that we could ride our horse through the blackest of nights without going astray and find ourselves still galloping the next morning, as the first light from the rising sun heralds the gift of a new day."

 I didn’t know when I wrote Give that we were about to gallop headlong into a very dark night indeed. But now I know that the values of Mary’s Meals – those which give us our identity and keep us all pointed in the same direction even when it is dark – are the most important things of all. Without them, we could not have continued to reach all those children with a daily meal. In their absence, it might have felt perfectly reasonable to accept that this was just not possible. But that is not the Mary’s Meals way, and so instead we find ourselves galloping as energetically as ever towards the dawn.

Like everyone else I wish this virus had never appeared. I wish it would go away. But I am very glad I wrote this book when I did.