Generosity and Forgiveness

Recently a furore erupted about a lady named Mayowa in Nigeria. Having announced that she had cancer, a justgiving page was set up, collections were instigated and managed, and great amounts of money were raised to further treatment and care.

And then, having reached the magic milestone of her collection target, a social media blogger determined that the whole collection was a scam. Mayowa was not sick, the world had been duped, and well-meaning citizens the world over were incensed that somebody would go to such lengths to enrich themselves.

But this story has a bitter-sweet ending. Mayowa was sick, dreadfully so. The collection was a valid attempt by her family to save the life of a loved one. Sadly, she died not too long after.

This back story is shared because, recently, another incident happened. It's not something that will play out in the media circus of social media. But good men and women have been hurt because of the actions of one person.

In analysing these happenings, I have concluded as follows:

One must do due diligence the best one knows how when ascertaining whether a good deed will actually lead to a positive outcome. We acknowledge that a good result may not always be the saving of a life.

However, in giving, as in love, one is liable to get hurt. We must be open to the possibility of experiencing pain in order that we may reap the reward of being true to the hope of love and a better world. The art of the giver is to avoid allowing the misdirection and dissembling of another less noble character to derail one from a pre-determined course of greatness, whether through acts of generosity, service, great invention, or the simple act of being a selfless friend.

The epitaph on ones headstone will never read "Here lies the body of 'X', thwarted by the misdeeds of 'Y'" The final testimony will be in terms of what we did, irrespective of the failings of those around us. So, in giving, give cheerfully. Know that sometimes we will get it wrong in giving, as in love. People will fail us, as we are wont to fail others. But one must perfect the art, because giving in love is all we have.