This is list of activities and things we do that we might think we can do by ourselves, but ….
Yes, we get dressed by ourselves, but where do our clothes come from? OK, the simple answer is the shops, by they in turn have employees and the clothes are manufactured somewhere else again by other people and the raw materials for your clothes come from elsewhere again. Thank you to the rural neighbours.
OK, we work, some by ourselves, or we are studying. Whatever task we undertake involves others. Who provides the goods the truck driver delivers? Who provides the goods the accounts officer documents? When we eat out, someone else is there to prepare the meal and serve it. If we at home, we've got the food there provided by others in the work force.
This even involves our relaxation. What about listening to music at home or watching a movie. Someone produced it. The place we live in someone built. Even if you decide to go 'feral' in the middle of a forest, we still needs the tools, made by someone else, to build the humpy and till the soil to plant the vegetables.
Finally, when we are travelling, no matter how long the distance, others are involved – air, train, bus, car ….. even if we walk, someone made the shoes.
There are many more examples, these illustrate it a complete nonsense when you hear anyone say they can do it alone.
We have to live with one and another to survive in this world. Helping others is therefore like helping ourselves. Each individual person is contributing his/her part to our society, regardless of how great or small.
But there is more to consider. How often have any of us looked in out wardrobes and identified so many items we have worn too many times and its time to update. Give a thought to those people who are unable to afford such luxury items, they're doing well to have anything to wear. Why not donate those clothes to charity. None of us live in isolation.
Likewise your meals, be thankful to all those involved in preparing the meal. Think about those who have little to eat for a host of different reasons. None of us live in isolation, the world is a global community. We are all part of humanitarian food drops whether we realise it or not.
Likewise, should we notice smoke from a building, someone driving with a near flat tyre, a child about to put themselves in danger (getting to near a hotplate) or any such thing, surely it is our duty as citizens of the world to be the alarm for them. This is community.
We live in a global village called 'earth' – talk to missionaries who have lived elsewhere or corporate leaders who have lived in other first world countries, we all have the same concerns and passions for family welfare, food for the family, survival, in sometimes, a confused and troubled world.
Helping each other is certainly a Biblical notion. When everybody gets used to the idea that helping someone else is helping ourselves (in all manner of ways). The story Jesus told of the Good Samaritan provides the principle, but it only scratches the surface.
Oscar Duan is from China, he has an accountancy degree from University of Hertfordshire (UH) International campus in Malaysia, and has undertaken further accountancy studies in Australia for accreditation here. He is married to Heyley.
Oscar Duan's previous articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/oscar-duan.html