The week before we had a guest speaker, Tom Mollenhaur, from a non-profit organization called Big Brothers Big Sisters. They focus on helping children through personal relationships with mentors. It was a great perspective from someone who worked in the corporate side before making a transition into the non-profit sector. I'm sure at one point in life you might have learned enough and achieved enough that you actually stop and think about what good can you do to help others and lend out your hands, your experience, your guidance. Interestingly, Tom mentioned that working in a non-profit org is a further challenge to him, perhaps tougher than corporate america. Funding, resources, and all forms of support, although sometimes abundant, do not just come knocking at your door. They need to know where their help is of most benefit. His job is to find ways to communicate to those people how their involvement is making the difference to the children, the community, the society, and give them the reason why they should help through his organization and not others'.
One question was raised, whether he found it hard to work for and with these children. The response: it's always hard when you care. So little I am involved with non-profits, I think it is so true. Look at how you handle your everyday life - if you don't care much then life is all smooth and great. Once you begin to care about something or someone, perhaps starting with yourself and build up to many things and many people, you go through much more thinking, trying, wondering, and seeking answers or solutions. True, not caring is always easier on yourself. Yet I don't see the point in life without it. When you care, it becomes important.. it becomes valuable.. it 'matters.' When you don't, it's all empty.. blank.. meaningless.. Perhaps once in a while it's worth taking a pause to think about what it is you really value in life. Something worth caring for.. something that makes you feel appreciated.. embraced.. fulfilled..
