Questioning my motivation for helping the homeless (rant alert)

@maezee (41988)
United States
February 23, 2012 4:34pm CST
Here's the deal, I do this thing once a month with this really small non-profit organization called Treats for the Streets. We raise clothes donations for the homeless (we personally wash, size, and organize it all) and go to our state's capital (St. Paul) to hand out these items to the needy once a month, at one of the biggest homeless shelters downtown. A friend of my mom's, T (we will call her this), started this non-profit about a year ago and I've been involved since about August 2011 with this. We all also pitch in to buy snacks (cookies, chips, muffins, rice krispie bars, so on and so forth) sodas, and sometimes full meals as well as we hand out hygeine things like tooth brushes, soap, etc. It's been a great experience so far - I feel good about what I'm doing and good about myself for doing it. I am not looking for community service hours, I Don't care about buffing up my resume, I just do it because it's the right thing to do. Because I like helping people. That should be enough, right? I am a fairly un-religious person. I call myself "non-denominational". Me and T, the "founder" of this non-profit recently had a beer or two together, and it was fine and well until she started to throw the religion stuff in my face. (She is very Christian, which of course isn't a problem). This is a paraphrased (but close to accurate) version of how our conversation went. *Somehow we got into talking about what motivates us to help others*. T: Blah blah blah, we help these people because of God and God saving a place for us in heaven Me: Well, that may be why you do it. But I am not motivated by "God"... T: If you're not doing it for God, what's the point in doing it?! (Sidebar: Can you say RUDE!) Me: Well, I can help people and be a good person without believing in God. Plus I don't need God to motivate me in everything that I do. Can't I do something just to be a good person and to help people in need? T: But that's doing it for GOD. Me: No, it's really not, it's... Just what I said.. Okay maybe I got a few of the quotes wrong but it went something like that. OH MAN, it was like she wasn't even LISTENING to me! I found this super annoying, to the point where I was about to find another group to volunteer with. I'm seeing her again on Saturday for this month's hand-out and I am still irritated. It's like Don't tell ME what motivates me to do good deeds! And does it really MATTER where our motivation comes from if we're doing the good deeds regardless? As long as it's not a selfish motivation? I was super irritated about this. We are supposedly a non-denominational group; we aren't affiliated with any churches - we're all just friends of family of friends who come together every month. I am annoyed that she is trying to tell me what MY motivations are, and is pretty much saying that if I'm NOT doing it for "God" then there's no point in doing it. I think she is dead wrong on that one. Would you be irritated by this? Should I find another group? For those more religious folks, do you consider all good deeds you (and everyone else) does to be because of God? What motivates you to do good deeds?
3 people like this
5 responses
@bird123 (10643)
• United States
24 Feb 12
It doesn't matter what everyone else does. It's what you do that counts. Let's look at what you are doing. 1. You are helping lots of needy people. Great. I don't think you are thinking about motivation. You are just a good-hearted soul. In my book, it doesn't get better than that. 2. You are supplying your friend with a view she has never seen. Good for you. Yes, people with narrow views will cause drama until they start to understand. Don't take it personally. Smile, be happy. Give her unconditional love regardless of how much drama she causes. Smile inside because you are giving her what she needs, a wider view. Finally, don't believe in God??? That's OK too because believing has never ever been important to God. I can tell you this. God is proud of both of your actions. You are helping people with many needs including helping your friend with her narrow view. So I say just keep doing what you are doing. You are a wonderful person. You will teach many in your lifetime.
2 people like this
@jaiho2009 (39141)
• Philippines
24 Feb 12
Keep the good deeds and just ignore T. Whatever motivates you to do good deeds is your goodness within. Don't let T spoil your day and stopped you from doing what you've started. I admire people who works on with charity without expecting in return. I am also a member of a group that runs charity works a private organization. I know what you feel and how it feels seeing those happy faces, and helping them in our own little way. keep it up
1 person likes this
• Canada
24 Feb 12
I agree. I love helping others because it makes me feel good. I really love working with people and making connections.
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
23 Feb 12
People can be strange, I am not really religious either, and I used to volunteer at a local nursing home it astounded me how many people could not understand why I would do it when I wasn't getting paid, so I had people just thinking of the money side of things so it does make you wonder how other people think doesn't it.
@shaggin (72183)
• United States
24 Feb 12
What an amazing thing you are helping out with. That is so generous and thoughtful. I think that you can each do it for your own reasons hers for god and you just to help others. Next time she brings it up just say lets not discuss religion as its a very touchy subject. I would have been pretty irritated if I was you in that situation as well.
@savypat (20216)
• United States
24 Feb 12
I guess your choice depends on how close you can come to understanding her point of view. First only a person who is somewhat unsure raises their voice during a discussion. That old feeling I am right because I can be louder than you. This being said what I would do is confront her by saying, you made me very uncomfortable the other day, and I am wondering if we can even work together anymore. If we can agree to disagree on the matter of motivation we can just drop this and go on as we were before. But if this is going to continue to be a source of contention between us I would rather put my time somewhere that I feel more at ease. This will put the ball in her court but you must be willing to chuck it if she says she can't live with these rules. I do know exactly how you feel and have learned a couple of ways to escape this type of confrontation. My old stand by is "I don't like to discuss religion." That will stop most of it. Blessings