Common Change receives its fair share of thank you notes and we occasionally share them as a way to remind us all to do small things with great love and how that simple act can have a ripple effect.
Anyway, thank you for what you do on a daily basis to change people’s lives. This was such a blessing to Christina and changed her life in such a profound way. And she will use this house to bless others so the circle just keeps going.
Here’s the back story
Cristina lives in Central America in a modest house on the side of a mountain. She spends her days visiting the poor and elderly, helping meet their basic needs. She applied to a government program that would build a more stable house for her and her family, but the government funds would only cover half the cost. A friend in the U.S., who happened to be a member of a Common Change group, requested the remaining funds to construct a decent and safe home for Cristina and her family. And in turn, in her new home, Cristina hosted her neighbors and those in need from her community.
How often do we wonder what a person would do with the money if we could give it? If I’m honest, I assume they’ll spend it frivolously on things that I’ve determined they don’t need. What a humbling, convicting realization than to see a person who receives generosity turning around to bless others. We think we are just helping a friend, but we may never know how many people were helped because of the one person we touched.
How do I know that a gift given will be used the right way is a question that we get asked when people are exploring Common Change. Here’s a story of a recent gift given by a Common Change group that wasn’t used in the way that the group originally discussed.
In other times, our culture, our way of being with each other, the way we spend our days, were constructed by Emperors, Popes, Generals and Public Servants.
We all want to believe there are social safety nets that will prevent our most vulnerable from falling through the cracks created by poverty and economic insecurity. But, the reality is that almost half of Americans could not cover an emergency expense of $400 or less. We live in a time of great economic isolation for which safety nets no longer exist. 
You might know people like Charlie and June. They’re the ones who are always giving, always sharing, always opening their home, asking what others may need. They’ll open up about their needs if asked, but they don’t usually put the spotlight on their own struggles. But stay close enough to Charlie and June, and you may get the opportunity to see something amazing. The moment when the caregivers become the recipients of abundant generosity brings an unexpected joy. Being able to give reminds each of us of our shared humanity; it reminds us of the vulnerability of merely being alive. We all know the saying that it’s better to give than to receive, and in this way, Charlie and June get to share the joy of giving by being on the other end for a change. Common Change provides the opportunity to experience that joy, inviting all to the table of collective abundance.
Do you ever read the news or scan your social media feeds or even just step outside and feel the weight of all that seems to be going wrong in the world? You know in your heart that not all is lost, and for all the negativity and despair that seems to grow louder every day, there’ve got to be people out there who remind you of what’s good and true. Common Change is one place where you can connect with others to make a positive, tangible difference in the lives of people all around the world.
Whenever I see someone standing at the corner with a sign asking for help, the first thing I want to ask is “What’s your story and how did you get here?” I know they are more than what this moment tells me, defined not just by what they seem to lack. Inevitably the light turns green, and I drive away, and I’m left to wonder until the next distraction occupies my mind. Their sign may say they want some change or food or a cigarette, but I can only imagine how powerful it might be if they were given a chance to identify their own needs and desires at that moment. That happened recently in a parking lot in North Dakota. Billy was coming out from the grocery store, and he noticed a woman in distress in her car. He didn’t have any grand plans or heroic intentions that day, but he made himself available and open to whatever might come next. He learned this woman’s name was Stacey, and her family had become far-flung because of trouble finding jobs and now she was on the verge of eviction. Without knowing how things would turn out, Billy started by offering to buy her a cup of coffee.
When you visit Cuba you notice one thing right away: Older people are everywhere you look. That’s understandable, we are an aging country. People walking everywhere. From the early morning to late at night, people are walking. You walk to go to work, you walk to go to school, you walk to the beach. You see mothers walking with their children, fathers returning from work, young people going out, and elderly walking. There are not many cars and only a few buses, so most of us in Matanzas City get from place to place by walking.
The hurricanes of last summer tore up a broad swath of destruction from one island to another, and all the way along the Gulf Coast. In an era of more frequent natural disasters, there’s a whole industry of recovery “experts” just waiting to appear with their clipboards and walkie-talkies. When we are in the position of perceived weakness, we are often at the mercy of these outsiders and the resources we believe they will devote to our cause. But what if we flipped the script and entrusted the resources directly to those who seem to be most vulnerable? What if we believed that the resources they possess simply by knowing their own needs were the most powerful tool towards recovery? Those same communities that appear devastated have faced the devastation of different kinds before, and with a strong rootedness in their sense of “home,” have done what was needed to rebuild and carry on.