Choosing "right" action when love isn't the motivator
Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2015 4:49 am
By donation or not?
We have run a vegan food van for 6 months.
It was initially by donation, and this felt good. I looked spiritual when inside I was far from it. I also had demands that people donated to expenses, so decided to charge cost price (price to produce the food) plus a donation box for our time if they wished - i thought to be more honest. Really, I still had demands that people give more and felt there wasn't enough, other times afraid we weren't going to pay rent for the week, or wanting people to contribute to validate my worth projecting "I am worth more than that!"
We've taken a few weeks off and will continue in some way, but I am confused about the loving way. I saw Nicky's post about donations and felt completely opposite - he's happy to give a gift without expectation of return, making it available to all. Happy to share maybe because of the love he has been given? (Nicky, if you read this and care to share, I'd love to hear.) Same with Jesus and Mary. They give freely without expectation for anything in return, especially financially. I'm not sure, what growth in the soul enables us to give freely without demands? Love?
And honestly, I feel one million miles from this.
So then is it more loving to just be straight out honest and charge the fair price ? But that feels like I am giving in to the barter addiction and not challenging it. But the first two ways weren't loving either as I was still injuring others but also charging a price seems wrong too, like i am giving up.
So I guess the question is, do you act knowing that either way is unloving, but which is less unloving, given my present soul condition? I want to work on this issue but it is time to act as well, and I am far from loving on this.
I would appreciate any answers anyone may have around this, experiences, suggestions on what love would do??
Thanks in advance,
Monique
We have run a vegan food van for 6 months.
It was initially by donation, and this felt good. I looked spiritual when inside I was far from it. I also had demands that people donated to expenses, so decided to charge cost price (price to produce the food) plus a donation box for our time if they wished - i thought to be more honest. Really, I still had demands that people give more and felt there wasn't enough, other times afraid we weren't going to pay rent for the week, or wanting people to contribute to validate my worth projecting "I am worth more than that!"
We've taken a few weeks off and will continue in some way, but I am confused about the loving way. I saw Nicky's post about donations and felt completely opposite - he's happy to give a gift without expectation of return, making it available to all. Happy to share maybe because of the love he has been given? (Nicky, if you read this and care to share, I'd love to hear.) Same with Jesus and Mary. They give freely without expectation for anything in return, especially financially. I'm not sure, what growth in the soul enables us to give freely without demands? Love?
And honestly, I feel one million miles from this.
So then is it more loving to just be straight out honest and charge the fair price ? But that feels like I am giving in to the barter addiction and not challenging it. But the first two ways weren't loving either as I was still injuring others but also charging a price seems wrong too, like i am giving up.
So I guess the question is, do you act knowing that either way is unloving, but which is less unloving, given my present soul condition? I want to work on this issue but it is time to act as well, and I am far from loving on this.
I would appreciate any answers anyone may have around this, experiences, suggestions on what love would do??
Thanks in advance,
Monique