Greg Mortenson

Greg mortenson is one of my giving heroes. His Book, Three Cups of Tea, is high on my giving must-read list. Giving-individual to individual, community to community binds disparate cultures, religions, nations; in this, Greg has stumbled upon a solution to much of the world’s division.

Just before the Afghanistan invasion, I was present when a pastor and his parishioner were discussing the prospect of the invasion. Both were excitedly in favor of Mr. Bush’s plan. The pastor turned to me. “What do you think?” he asked.

Now I’m a pretty staunch pacifist; I see little reason for war. But, perhaps as my nature might suggest, I’m also not much of a debater. I said I didn’t have much of an opinion. But that wasn’t true. I thought, as I still do, that it was a terrible mistake-costly in money and lives and very much a self-serving war.

Now, just because I hadn’t been able to debate the issue didn’t mean that I didn’t have an opinion-I just can’t put words together to make a coherent statement when opposing opinions collide. So, as usual, I turned to the trusty computer where my thoughts are free as birds and thoughts flow onto electronic paper with well-lubricated ease.

I wrote an Email something like this to the pastor: “It seems to me that being in favor of war is un-Christian. Jesus said, ‘Love your enemies;’ and ‘Do good to those who hate you;’ and ‘Pray for those who despitefully use you.’ We are going to war to punish someone whom we classify as an enemy. Afghanistan harbors those we blame for the loss of lives on 9-11. They are our enemies, then, by extension. George W. Bush, Christian by his own definition, now rattles his sword saying that we must punish those responsible. How is this Christian? More to the point, how can we, as Christians, be in favor of, condone or not actively oppose this kind of a war?” I suggested, rather, that we should be sending care packages and money for schools and hospitals to these we considered enemies if we were truly a Christian nation.

I never received a reply from the pastor.

Now, finally, to the main point of this post. Greg Mortenson has done exactly what I thought a Christian should do in this circumstance. I see no evidence in his book that he is a Christian, but he is truly living the principles of the Christ. No, he didn’t set out to solve the issue of Muslim enmity toward the US. He was merely being himself. At great personal expense and loss, he did something which has turned out to be the ideal thing to do in the circumstance. Recently I heard a Public Radio piece on the changes the US military is making in Afghanistan. They are now bringing infrastructure to the rural communities where the “enemy” has its strongholds--and they are winning their hearts.

How would things be different today if we had buried Afghanistan in gifts? Would Afghanis see us in a different light if we had spent the billions of dollars on food, clothing, shelter, education, medicine instead of on bombs and bullets? My guess is yes.
Today on the news I heard that Mr. Mortenson’s organization is under criticism for misusing money donated to it. Even if Greg Mortenson misused a lot of what is donated to him; even if he turns out to be a thief-enriching himself, I still know that he has it right: Give without expectation of return. But I don’t believe he is doing anything dishonest. A con artist does not go to all the trouble that he has--risking life, limb and relationships to cheat donors.

Now we can explore a broader view of the same issue. When I give, I hold something in reserve, perhaps Something to do with the worthiness of the recipient or the honesty of the receiver. “What will he/she do with the donation?” Is that my business? Should I not give generously, “good measure, packed down and running over” and let theconsequences of the gift be on the receiver? Have I not been blessed in the giving itself? I’m not saying we shouldn’t check the charities to which we give, but, at least for myself, I need to care less about the end as about my own giving.

Greg Mortenson, you are my hero. Even if tarred with a black brush by some, you remain in my constellation of good guys, of good givers who inspire me to greater creativity and generosity in my giving.

May you be cleared of this charge and go on to even greater influence in this divided world. Blessings on you.