poverty

Small Things With Love

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We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love. – Mother Teresa Even for those of us who do not celebrate the mainstream culture’s religion, today I offer a lovely ritual that you can share with your loved ones tonight, regardless of spirituality or tradition. Sarah Ban Breathnach, one of … Read more

Bringing Light Where You Can

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Except during the Great Depression, women and children have never been on our nation’s streets in significant numbers. During the 1980’s, cutbacks in benefits coupled with rapidly increasing rents and a dearth of low-income housing jeopardized the stability of all people with reduced or fixed incomes. At the same time, the number of female-headed households … Read more

Intentional Giving

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Charity by William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905) I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver. — Maya Angelou As I discussed last week, according to Moses Maimonides’ hierarchy of giving, the most virtuous form of charity is that which enables the recipient to become self-reliant. And anonymous giving is more … Read more

Gratitude and Gratification

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Better indeed is knowledge than mechanical practice.Better than knowledge is meditation.But better still is surrender of attachment to results,because there follows immediate peace.— Bhagavad Gita (thanks to Greg for this reminder!)Last night, I watched the new reality show on Fox TV called, “The Secret Millionaire.” I have to admit that I am old enough to … Read more

Blessings of the New Moon

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Dark of the MoonNew beginningsDark of the MoonPlant a seed tonightDark of the MoonWhat we envisionWill come to be by the Full Moon’s light.When we give, we simply make room for more to come in. When we become deeply, authentically generous, it signals to our abundant universe that there is a conduit open to receive … Read more

Family histories

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If all the rich people in the world divided up their money among themselves, there wouldn’t be enough to go around.— Christina Stead (1903-1983) From the historical perspective of the creation and meaning given to money, to the current value placed on it by complex forces of governmental agencies and economic policies, all of us … Read more

The Puritan Ethic

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It is a tragic mix-up when the United States spends $500,000 for every enemy soldier killed, and only $53 annually on the victims of poverty. * — Dr. Martin Luther King As we begin to consider and heal our own relationship with money, we can’t overlook the values and ideology that permeate the very foundation … Read more