No ‘Have Nots’

Lynne Twist wrote a book called the Soul of Money. When I read the book, it shifted my perspective on giving. Lynne has worked all over the world with indigenous people and with moneyed people. She brings these two groups together for mutual benefit.

Everyone brings something to the table, says Lynn. People who are looking for financial resources to start a micro business or dig a well in their village or any other enterprise, bring their spirit and creative ideas to the table. Donors bring money and receive the satisfaction that they’ve made a difference.

When Lynne recently spoke in Denver, I participated in an afternoon workshop with her. Even though I remembered the concept from her book that there are no ‘have nots’, that everyone is a ‘have’, everyone brings something to the table, it struck a deeper cord in me as she spoke.

In a consumer culture, it’s easy to see ‘haves’ as only those with great financial resources. By seeing people through only one lens, the size of their bank account, it dishonors them. To think that financial resources are more valuable than anything else dishonors everyone who has something unique to offer and may not have a large bank account.

Perhaps a tattoo—‘we’re all haves’ would help me to remember that. I can make someone a ‘have not’ when I judge them for well, not thinking more like me! I want to stay in the ‘we’re all haves’ mindset so that I can pay attention to what everyone brings to the table.

Another aspect of ‘we’re all haves’ struck me as soon as I turned my phone on after Lynne’s Sunday afternoon workshop. A colleague needed me to pinch hit for her on Monday and teach the first day of a two day communication skills class to a group of rocket scientists.

For a moment, I was completely intimidated by the level of intelligence that could actually figure out how to launch something into space! Then I reminded myself that I’m a ‘have’ even if my ‘have’ looks different than that of the rocket scientists.

I showed up with the group knowing I had something to offer. I brought my humor as well as my course content expertise to the class. We had a fun and productive day. My colleague, who taught the second day of class, said day two went well and the class gave us both excellent evaluations. If I had allowed myself to be intimidated by the collective IQ in the room, and see myself as a ‘have not’ instead of a ‘have’ I suspect there might have been a different outcome.

What does the concept of everyone bringing something to the table inspire in you?