In Kind

The value of money is the measuring stick that most people use to rate success. If you are one that is successful then you will have lots of money in your bank account. If you are good at whatever you do then someone should pay you lots of money to do it and the better you are at what you do the higher you should be compensated. And the more financial value you have then you are able to get or do anything that you want to that requires money.

My belief system is a bit different. I have deemed to value that every time I accomplish the purpose that I was created for that whether I get financial remuneration or not that that is success to me. I believe that God pays back those that sow generously. And many times he pays “in kind” not dollar for dollar value. Many of my time is spent volunteering at jobs that other people would never do if they were not getting financial compensation.  At other times I have received goods and services as payment for many of the goods and services that I provide. Many call this a bartering system.

                                                           

I was dancing at a Black History month celebration at Vanier Correction facility for women and was wearing a few African accessories, one of which was a very special cowry shell belt that had great significance for me. A friend mentioned my belt and I proceeded to share about the value of the cowry shell in ancient civilizations such as Africa and how it was as a form of currency.  To wear a belt such as the one I had on that had an abundance of shells on it meant in those days that I would have been considered an important wealthy woman.

I proceeded to do our dance presentation with the women that were being held in Vanier. Our theme and the song we did the choreography to was the “The color purple” and how it was a sign of wealth and that it was primarily worn by royalty or people of means and substance. Our dance and my poem was about the color purple being returned to people of color and also to all people that find God.

After the dance the co-ordinator gave me a beautiful bouquet of flowers a gift bag with numerous small trinket items and a card thanking me for what I do in the prison.

When I was driving home, I picked up my eldest son and after he saw the items he asked me if I get paid for what I do in Vanier. I told him that they don’t have a budget so I actually pay to go and volunteer as I cover all my own expenses. But that they repay me with gifts “in kind”. I was so thrilled to be appreciated in this manner and began to think about what a blessing this was.  I went home and promptly displayed my blessings to remind myself of why I do what I do.

After meditating on my answer to him a little further I realized that the satisfaction that I receive from helping women like these to have some hope and to be courageous in the midst of very trying circumstances was actually payment enough.

The following day as I was speaking to the volunteer co-ordinator at the correctional Facility about my volunteer work as a Doula for the pregnant women, our conversation drifted to these thoughts that had been spoken the day prior. As I began to share a few of my experiences with the women and one in particular that had a full circle moment theme, I began to see the vast wealth that I possess and how God has repaid me many times over “in Kind”. I am a wealthy woman, rich beyond measure because of the spiritual cowry shell belt that I wear around my waist. People in today’s society may not understand the value of what I possess because they have traded in cowry shells for dollar bills as a means of value.

But to me every shell on that belt represents a wealth and success that cannot be quantitative in human logic or reasoning. It defies the logic and order of our financial world system that says that people provide a goods or a service and receive a monetary dollar value as payment and if you have a need for something then you need to have money to pay for it.

My value system says “give and it shall be given to you, pressed down shaken together and running over, shall men and women give to you” or “ better is it to give than to receive” . “If you believe then nothing shall be impossible for you”  and “ the just shall live by faith”.

I have settled this issue but I am still putting it into real life application as I oppose the system that says that it can’t be done. Somehow I know that what I believe is truth to me.