The idea evolved as a result of keeping my thoughts limited to 420 characters—the maximum limit allowed by facebook for a status.  I tried getting around it by transforming statuses into links thinking I could add more characters in the explanation field, but they caught on.  They always do.  It was an observation that struck me the other day like that platter that I keep on the top shelf in the most hard-to-reach cupboard.  The one I can’t quite get the right grip on while wrestling it out of its hiding place so it bonks me on the head.  It was my inability to condense it to the allowable number of characters that gave birth to this—my first blog.  I guess you could call me jaded after all.

It happened while I was listening to our local Christian radio station—WAY FM if you’re wondering—compelling listeners to join Compassion International and sponsor a child from Haiti: Or two or three.  I’ll admit, I almost pulled over (because I was in my car) and called in myself.  We already sponsor a girl from Ecuador and have since 2003, but Haiti is in serious need.  In fact there are serious needs all over the world.  Hardly a day goes by that we’re not compelled in some fashion to part with what for most Americans is barely 1% of their total monthly income and help children in other parts of the world including  America itself.  That’s when I noticed the discrepancy: the reality that as Christians, there ought to be so much money pouring into these ministries that they all but beg us to stop! 

Why would I assume such a thing you might ask?  Well it’s because the Christian community in America, a group with which I outwardly identify, often finds its voice in matters of disapproval.  It organizes boycotts to send messages to companies and organizations that their practices are abhorrent and we intend to throw our weight (read: money) around to prove our point.  In essence we’re saying, “If you don’t behave the way we believe is right, you will suffer economically because us Christians will no longer support your company by purchasing your products or services.” 

Really?  If there really is enough money in our pockets to threaten Disney, Colgate, Sears, and Proctor & Gamble (just to name a few) with severe monetary penalty, where is all that money when the rest of the world needs it?  How much does a Disney vacation actually cost?  How many kids in Haiti could be supported and for how long for the same amount that we threaten to withhold from “bad” companies who implement “bad” policies?  Further, why aren’t we embarrassed that we call attention to the great numbers we profess to have among our ranks and wallets when the local Christian radio station has to beg to get just a couple hundred people to donate $38 per month? 

The next time you get an email accusing some big company of taking “under God” out of the pledge of allegiance on their packaging or offering health benefits to same-sex couples, don’t threaten to quit buying their product or recommending their store.  Find a worthy cause and support it instead.  We don’t have any right to use our wallets as a weapon against corporate wrong-doing until we can show that we really are an economic force to be reckoned with by an outpouring of support of those most in need. 

I think I’ll organize a protest.