Here’s a note I received this week from someone who wants to be a coach.
”Dan –With the poverty of the USA my spirit doesn’t feel right charging the poor that need help for coaching them in the right direction. Out of the love in my heart for others and their burdens I cannot see putting a boundary up (money) for what I know can help them.”
Coaching is a helping service – and I sincerely hope whatever you are doing in work is a helping service. Coaching is not unique in being the only way to help others. So we could substitute anything you do in the following sentence:
”With the poverty of the USA my spirit doesn’t feel right charging the poor that need help”
- making their house payment
- getting groceries
- having dental work
- fixing a plumping problem
- repairing their car
- preparing their taxes
- getting legal help
- having competent daycare
- knowing how to get a job
- keeping their yard trimmed or
- having access to great books
So if I’m a plumber I really hate to charge people who are already struggling. If I’m the grocery store owner I really don’t want to have to charge the single mom for food to feed her children. If I own the tire store I feel bad having the elderly couple pay for the tires on their old car. To charge for any of these things we are “putting a boundary up for what I know can help them.”
And if I’m a coach I hate to charge for knowledge and encouragement that could help that person break the cycle of self-defeat and start on a new path to wholeness and spiritual vitality.
My Dad was a pastor who volunteered his time to pastor the little church in our town. I too have a heart for the downtrodden. But I’ve created a balance whereby I can give without resentment. I allow 10% of my time for humanitarian and ministry needs. That allows me to address those needs and still provide for my family. But I couldn’t spend 90% of my time helping the poor – I’d simply become one of them and deplete my ability to help. It’s impossible to give when your own cup is empty. A sincere desire to help and serve can kill the golden goose just as much as raw greed.
Please watch this video where I explain my thinking on how we can give best from a full cup.
