St. Job of Pochaiv Orthodox Church raises $3,500 through its December baklava sales for the victims of hurricanes in North Carolina and Florida. Photo by Fr. Theophan

By Fr. Theophan
St. Job of Pochaiv Orthodox Church

It is not often that I get to write out big checks and send them off, other than to our insurance company or to pay the utilities which really don’t bring me much joy. So today was a good day. I printed off checks totaling $3,500 to two parishes in North Carolina and Florida to help those who were affected by the hurricanes last year. It is easy to forget that people are still recovering when the news moves on to the most recent disasters.

The money was raised through our cookie, and now baklava, sales in December. Our cookie sales have been a staple in the community for over 15 years, both for donating money to special needs, and to bring our parish community together in the work it entails.

Each year the faithful of Saint Job choose a charity to donate to. In the past, the proceeds have gone to many different causes: the Española YMCA and their new media room, Macrina’s House whose the goal is to establish a women’s shelter here in Los Alamos, and to provide aid to Ukraine during this invasion of their homeland, and others.

There are so many worthy causes. There is so much need. It is easy to become overwhelmed and paralyzed when problems seem so big. But it is the small things that make the biggest difference. It is the kindness of one person to another, one small donation, one good deed, one hand up, that can make the biggest difference to a person in need.

And people are not causes, people are not ideologies, people are not problems, projects, or even sins. People are persons and we need to remember that. Each one comes to us as unique creatures, made in the image of the Almighty God. Each one therefore demands our kindness, love, and as much generosity (both emotional and financial) as we can muster.

We must be careful not to let our social consciousness and progressive attitudes become an excuse to step over the person in need who is right in front of us. Taxes and charitable donations are not a substitute for care and empathy.

I remember 30 years ago, working customer service at a grocery store in Las Cruces. It was really a great job most of the time. I got to fix people’s problems, small, grocery-related problems, granted, but problems none the less. And I enjoyed it. Sometimes people would come to my register just fuming, angry beyond what a package of spoiled meat should actually arouse. And I did my best to ameliorate their rage. I was often successful, occasionally not. But those were the funniest, and most tragic.

Hardly ever was the spoiled package the thing they were angry about. It was merely the flash point and I the unwitting recipient. If I could keep my head, everything would be fine, and the next person in line, who didn’t have a problem, wouldn’t have a problem with me.

Each person is a new chance for connection. Each person has their own story they need to tell. Ours is to listen.

To get on the list for cookies or baklava next year, or to make a donation, email cookies@stjobla.org.