My son and I had the opportunity to help the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and the Baltimore Fire Department to kick-off their "Fill the Boot" fund-raiser for Jerry's Kids. As you may recall from my earlier posts, my nine-year-old son, Joseph ("Joby"), has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (MDA link)---he is one of Jerry's Kids. Joby and I volunteered to do our part.
As volunteers, it would have probably been sufficient that we simply showed up, playing the role of a real-life dog and pony to which the other speakers could point as an example of a family that benefits from this good work. But this would have missed an opportunity.
From my own perspective, little could be worse than my leaving our firefighters with the image of pain and suffering and then sending them out beg for money on the streets with this in mind. Instead, what if we could have the firefighters contribute their joy and energy with full confidence in knowing that the MDA itself would take the product of their good work and use it to ensure the best possible life for those children and families affected by these neuro-muscular diseases?
This is a non-trivial point for the Patriarchal Zen practitioner. After all: What truly are disease and healing? What is the outcome of the pursuit of money? Should we cause a more deadly disease than we hope to cure in our actions? Is there a way to objectively help my son without relatively wounding a firefighter?
It is one of my many koans...
I hope this post will inspire Zen practitioners to consider these very important questions before I follow-up with a post about how my son and I navigated the day. In the meantime, for more details about our day in the city, please visit my personal blog here.
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