Charity is the voluntary giving of help, typically in the form of money, to those in need.
Being charitable is easy these days — you can do a search online and in under 10 seconds, many reputable and relevant charities will invite you to their giving page where your gift is just a click away.
That is a blessing and a curse.

The Blessing.
This September, 30 bloggers are using their sites to collectively raise money for an organization called charity: water.  We have a dedicated page that will allow you to give and to follow the progress as we aim for our goal of $30,000.  We want to reach this goal in 30 days.  So, this month, you will be informed and challenged as we pull our resources together to change lives.
To start this campaign on my blog, I have included a video from charity: water that covers the problem and the objective (this promo features the music of Beck — how could I resist that one?).

The Curse.
Being charitable is easy in this day and age.
Too easy.
So easy, in fact, we can click submit and go about the rest of our day being jerks and bringing chaos into the lives of everyone around us.
It is my belief that we all have a desire to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.
We often appease that desire here and there without ever really doing the hard work of making real change to the world around us.
So, please give to charity: water.
Help the billion people in our world get clean water.
But…
…I also want to challenge you to make a change where you are.
At work.
At school.
In your neighbourhood.
This month on my blog, I want you to share your stories of not only helping charity: water, but I also want you to share your stories of doing something that scared the crap out of you — something that caused you to step outside of yourself and bring peace, bring shalom, to someone besides yourself.
Share those stories here.  Not so you get a pat on the back, but to encourage others to do something selfless.
Ready?
Go.