The Art of Giving

Just returned from a Reunion with class fellows from IIMA, meeting some of them after a gap of Five decades! We had an interesting session on Giving Back.

Following Tale of Two seas shared with them:

The Dead Sea is really a Lake, not a sea. The salt in the Dead Sea is as high as 35%. Nothing lives in the Dead Sea. And hence the name - Dead Sea.

The Sea of Galilee is just north of the Dead Sea. Both the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea receive their water from River Jordan. And yet, they are very, very different. Unlike the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee is pretty, resplendent with lots of plants, rich, colourful marine life. Same region, same source of water, and yet while one sea is full of life, the other is dead. How come? 

Here’s apparently why. The River Jordan flows into the Sea of Galilee and then flows out. The water simply passes through the Sea of Galilee in and then out - and that keeps the sea healthy and vibrant, teeming with marine life.

But the Dead Sea is so far below the mean sea level,there are no outlet streams. The Dead Sea takes water from the River Jordan, and holds it. It does not give. Result? No life at all. Think about it.

We are fortunate to get wealth, knowledge, love and respect. But if we don't learn to give, we could all end up like the Dead Sea. If we get the Dead Sea mentality of merely taking in more water, more money, more everything the results can be disastrous.

Good idea to make sure that in the sea of your own life, you have outlets. Many outlets. For love and wealth - and everything else that you get in your life. Make sure you don't just get, you give too.