Money and Security
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by Diane Wegener
"Like anything else in our lives, (money) can be an idol that enslaves, deflects, and destroys, or it can be an icon through which God blesses us, an energy of God that we are called to appreciate and circulate with joy." -Tilden Edwards, Living in the PresenceIn the one and a half years since I was hired by Shalem to be full-time fundraising administrative help, I've learned some unexpected lessons about money.
It was actually a leap of faith that allowed me to take the job here in the first place. My previous employer was a small, very wealthy trade association. When I left, I had enormous benefits including a healthy retirement annuity. There was a perception among us in that office that we were secure and safe for life.
When I was interviewed for this job at Shalem, I was counseled by many friends to carefully consider my future in economic terms. I was told "yes, we know you have this thing about meditation, but what about your future? What about saving for a house and graduate school?" I promised my friends to think carefully.
But at my second interview, Patricia Clark, the Director of Operations at Shalem, began by saying to the group of five people assembled, "let's begin with silence so we can be open to what God wants." I remember catching my breath and forcing back tears. I was touched and astounded that any organization -- even an organization devoted to listening to God--would listen together for guidance in the hiring process. I knew then that, regardless of salary and benefits, this was where I wanted to work.
It was a new experience of security. It was a security of conviction that I was paying attention to my heart's deepest desire to be closer to God.
Shalem as an organization has faced similar challenges regarding money and security. This year we had our second overall deficit in a row. It is a shaky feeling when the budget doesn't balance. It forces us to confront some of our deepest fears such as, "what is our future and do we have a future?"
I have witnessed remarkable faith among the Shalem extended family--from people of close involvement like Board and Committee members to people who drop in for Wednesday prayer to people far away from Washington who write to tell us that they read Shalem News and feel a connection with Shalem. Many of you have told us about your conviction that Shalem is providing a ministry that is needed. And last year, when we told you about our first deficit, many of you responded with gifts that helped us to reach our contributions goal of $175,000.
Thus we planned our new fundraising campaign with a sense of trust that this year, as last year, we will reach our goal, which is $180,000. And we move forward with new programs, confident that they will again this year meet the needs of many people. We also experience this profound but scary feeling of security--that people of Shalem are listening to God and paying attention to their deepest hearts desire--to be closer to God.
© 2008 The Shalem Institute.