charitable love and the mystery of our lives

alan naiman is a mystery

here is part of his story: https://www.seattletimes.com/life/lifestyle/social-worker-in-washington-state-left-a-surprise-when-he-died-11m-to-help-kids/

naiman was a ultra frugal man who lived an very simple life in seattle. to many he probably appeared quirky. after his death, it was discovered that he had donated over $11 million to various charities. his closest friends had no idea how much he had amassed in his life. the charities at which he volunteered were stunned when they received his donations.

we live in an social media driven age where people want others to click on their links to see what they are doing, where good deeds are primarily posted for others to see, and where acts are motivated in a search to become viral. an anthem for good works in this vein can be, “i am proud of how humble and charitable i am.”

for me, alan naiman’s life stands out because he goes against the grain of how our world operates. what motivated him to do this? his parents? a teacher at blanchet catholic high? his own spiritual journey? a combination of these factors? we might never know…

i admire and thank God for people like alan naiman. he knew the wisdom of matthew 6: 1-4:

“[But] take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.”

rest in God’s peace alan naiman! thank you for your example of real love and goodness in our world