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February 14, 2010 - The Power of Half

by Father Edward L. Beck, C.P.

It's been some weeks now since the disastrous earthquake in Haiti, and we've seen millions raised for the relief effort. We really do seem to come together in generosity in the face of human need and suffering. Other times perhaps it's done in smaller, more personal ways. Nicholas Kristof reported in the New York Times that Kevin Salwen of Atlanta was driving his 14-year-old daughter home after a sleepover. While they were parked at a traffic light his daughter noticed a black Mercedes on one side of them and a homeless man begging on the other. She said, "Dad, if that man had a less nice car, that man could have a meal." And she couldn't let it go. When they got home Hannah told her mom the story, and she kept at it. Her exasperated mother finally said, "What do you want us to do, sell our house?" Well actually, yes, because that's what they did. Wound up selling their luxurious home and donated half of the proceeds to charity. $800,000 to help 40 villages in Ghana. And with the other half, they bought a more modest home. Hannah and her father have written a book about their experience released just this week called THE POWER OF HALF. And the power they found was that they were happier and better off in the smaller house. Kevin Salwen said, "We traded STUFF for togetherness and connectedness. I can't figure out why everybody wouldn't want that deal." I don't know why everybody wouldn't want that deal either. Probably because we really don't believe we'd be happier with less. Or that we can afford to do with less. But it doesn't even have to be money. Hannah, who's now a high school junior said, "Everyone has too much of something, whether it's time, talent or treasure. Everyone has their own half to give. You just have to find it." Seems to me that HALF is something really worth searching for.

To watch Father Beck give the above Reflection, click here.