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Reflections from our Pastors
Thursday August 17, 2023
Matthew 18: 21-35
The concept of paying it forward became popular in 1999 when Catherine Ryan Hyde’s book by the same name was published, and further in 2000 when the movie Pay It Forward showed in theaters everywhere. The pay it forward definition is quite simple: when someone does a kind deed for another, instead of returning the favor to them, a good deed is, in turn, done for another person. If one decides to partake in this, they should do so with the expectation of not receiving anything in return. In this way, the practice of helping one another can spread through society, creating a social movement with an impact of making the world a better place.
The roots of this movement, however, are much older than 1999. In 317 B.C., an ancient Greek named Menander wrote a play titled Dyskolos, or in English, The Grouch, The Curmudgeon, or The Misanthrope. The story displays various levels of philanthropy amongst its characters and shows the transformation of humans through acts of goodness.
The concept was described by Benjamin Franklin, in a letter to Benjamin Webb dated April 25, 1784: “I do not pretend to give such a deed; I only lend it to you. When you meet with another honest man in similar distress, you must pay me by lending this sum to him; enjoining him to discharge the debt by a like operation, when he shall be able, and shall meet with another opportunity. I hope it may thus go through many hands…This is a trick of mine for doing a deal of good with a little money.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson, in his 1841 essay "Compensation", wrote: "In the order of nature we cannot render benefits to those from whom we receive them…But the benefit we receive must be rendered again, line for line, deed for deed, cent for cent, to somebody."
In 1916, an author named Lily Hardy wrote a book called The Garden of Delight. Within its covers, the saying, "You don't pay love back; you pay it forward" appeared, thus coining the term pay it forward.
The Pay it Forward Movement and Foundation was founded in the USA in 2000, helping to start a ripple effect of kindness acts around the world. Over 80 countries participate in this movement.
In today’s Gospel reading, ‘The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant,’ Jesus teaches, that paying it forward is a requirement for those who have received God's forgiveness. He told a parable of a man who had been forgiven a huge debt by the king, because the debtor had begged for mercy. However, after being freed from the debt, he found a fellow who owed him a very small debt, by comparison. Although he had been shown a great mercy, he refused the same consideration to his fellow who had pled for more time to pay. When the king found this out, he was angry, and threw the original debtor into prison until he paid the entire debt.
Some pay it forward places in our Fort Collins community include:
The Little Pantry outside the church. This pantry is stocked daily with food and other supplies. Donations from our three church membership and bulk purchases from Costco’s or Sam’s, provide the necessary items to fill the pantry. We who have enough, pay it forward to anyone in need.
FoCo Café (Feed Our Community Ourselves) is a non-profit whose mission is to build community by providing nutritious and delicious meals to the people of Fort Collins regardless of their ability to pay, while using mostly local, organic, and sustainably grown ingredients. “We are building community one plate at a time. If you can give more, please pay it forward. If you have a little less, pay what you can.”
Family Housing Network is another non-profit agency that pays it forward with providing housing, food, companionship and resources to homeless families in Larimer County.
I’m sure you all can add to this list from our generous Fort Collins community resources and your own giving experiences.
Global Pay it Forward Day is April 28, 2024, but we don’t have to wait till then to share an act of kindness with another human being. Remember, every act is beneficial no matter how small it may seem. Paying it forward allows generosity to flow throughout communities.
Amen
Mother Rosean
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Pay_it_forward
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