December 09, 2008

There Is No Excuse...

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood.

The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside.

"That laundry is not very clean", she said.

"She doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap."

Her husband looked on, but remained silent. Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line, and said to her husband, "Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this?"

The husband said, "I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows."

And so it is with life. What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window through which we look.

I know you may be thinking, "Oh, what a nice sentiment..and words of wisdom to be adhered to in our own lives."

Well, it is all that, but I'm looking at it from another perspective.

It seems to me that sometimes we don't really see clearly, not because our own windows are dirty, but because we are not presented with a clear view of a thing because of the dirty windows of others.

Sometimes, what we see is not what we get. Maybe, because our windows are clean, we think that what we are looking at is clean, too-- or it may have enough clean about it, that we don't see the dirt.

This has become apparent, to me, in many ways over the past months, in watching the political scene play out, and now again, in another situation.

For years, I have thought of United Way as a very good, and noble, organization. I've always heard of all the good things it does, of all the people it helps, and when I was employed, I contributed through payroll deduction, as has my husband, with a very substantial amount--but no more, as of this week.

I've found, through only a minimal amount of research, that the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Institute, in this area, according to their own web site, is generously supported by our local chapter of United Way. To even read from the web site is sickening, so I won't dignify it by linking it here.

But wait...there's more.

Planned Parenthood is, also, generously supported by United Way. I know that many will find fault with what I am saying here, because they will say that it has helped save the lives of lots of women.

Has it?

I don't know--but I do know that it is responsible in helping to rid the world of many innocent babies. Unwanted burdens, and inconveniences to women--not necessarily threats to the lives of the mothers. Not only do they aid and abet the taking of innocent lives, even to the point of selling Abortion Gift Certificates but they, obviously, try to protect the guilty in some cases.

Go here, Planned Parenthood's Abortion Extremism,then make your own decision about what you think is right, but as for me and my house, we don't want our hard-earned money to support the very things that we find repugnant, and reprehensible.

We gave, not knowing where the money was going, nor how it would be spent--we weren't seeing the clear picture.

Now, we know, and there is no excuse.

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
James 4:17 KJV

13 comments:

Rita Loca said...

Thanks for your prayers!

Jan said...

Jungle Mom..I've sent the prayer request to others, so many more will be praying.

No thanks necessary..it is our reasonable service.

God bless you, and your family.

Papa Frank said...

12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
-- I Corinthians 13:12

Jan said...

Papa Frank..I was thinking of that exact scripture as I was writing this!

I'm so glad you stopped by! :)

Anonymous said...

Most "general" charities are hooked into negative things one way or the other.

AmPowerBlog said...

I love this post, Jan, and thanks for the link.

Keeping our windows clean helps us see clearly, and while sometimes the "wash" is cleaner, we may also find a little smudge as well.

Bless you and yours this December and holiday season.

Jan said...

Donald..thanks!

Bless you and your family, too!

Jan said...

Hermit..for some reason I missed your comment, so I'm glad I checked back.

You're right about many of the charities, although I'm sure there must be a few good ones around.

Too bad the bad ones make people leery of the good ones, sometimes.

GUYK said...

Jan, I quit donating to United Way and Community Chest type fund raisers years ago because of who they supported. When I do donate..and I do more than those who figure I am a cold hearted sumbitch think I do..it is to the Starvation Army..yeah, me a Deist donating to a Christian organization. But I know that my dollars are well spent..and more than 90 cents of each one goes to where it was intended to go..to help some who are not as lucky in life as I have been.

Northwoods Woman said...

I wish more people would clean their windows! Beautiful post my dear!

Jan said...

Guyk..I agree with you, that Salavation Army is a great one to donate to, and the what they accomplish is commendable.

You may be a Deist, Guy--but you're our Deist, and we love you! :)

Jan said...

Livey..I know what you mean.

I think it would be a good thing to put on one's 'to-do' list wouldn't it? :)

Northwoods Woman said...

We can only pray. ;)