An Unwelcome Anniversary
This anniversary passed with very little fanfare or attention. It was just a scant three years ago, on April 15, 2019 that a destructive fire tore through the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. Crews renovating the building accidentally started a fire that ravaged for 15 hours and was catastrophic. Most of the damage was limited to the spire and the roof; fortunately vaulted ceilings inside the building limited interior damage. The video from the scene was horrific and was worthy of live coverage from most cable television news networks. History, before our very eyes, was going up in a thick smoke.
A Personal History
According to Wikipedia, the Cathedral was built between 1163 and 1345 and has played a critical role in the history of France and the Catholic Church. It is the final resting place for many bishops and archbishops; it was the place where Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself Emperor in 1804.
But, for me, the place has a more personal history. For our fifth anniversary, my wife and I took a trip to France and we visited the fabled cathedral. The building was massive in size and grandeur; a stone engraving of the Last Judgement gave an almost eerie welcoming to every visitor. Learning that the building was first built over 900 years ago, I had never consciously realized that I had entered a building that was so….old.
The sense that I vividly remember the most from being in the building is that it is remarkably dark; the massive cathedral was lit nearly only with candlelight and there was Catholic iconography all around; statues of the apostles and saints, a massive organ, stained glass windows, pews, altars for prayers signified by lit candles. As I walked through the building, I could tangibly feel the overwhelming presence of God. At the very least, I was thinking that they don’t make churches like this anymore. To say it was fascinating and awe-inspiring doesn’t do the experience justice.
The Response
Within in one week of the fire, over 1 Billion Euros was committed to the rehabilitation of the building; much of the funding came from France’s largest corporations and wealthiest families. That struck me as curious; France has become a largely secular state, where nearly half of residents claim no religious beliefs. And while Catholicism is still the largest singular Christian denomination, in thirty years the number of self-identified Catholics have nearly dropped in half (from 81% in 1986 to 40% in 2019). How could a religious institution become the beneficiary of such philanthropic support? Perhaps the building has more secular than religious value?
I answered my own question when I was in a discussion about philanthropic giving and what motivates donors. In this discussion, which happened a few months after the fire, my discussion partner stated that funds spent on the restoration of the cathedral were “wasted”, especially when there were more worthy causes and larger catastrophes that were facing the world; climate change, homelessness, hunger, etc. How can we live in a world where we celebrate a building over the real felt needs of people everyday?
And then the answer hit me like a ton of bricks…it was about a sense of meaning.
I stated that I was in the building once and that I actually made a modest donation to the rebuilding of the structure. I made that donation knowing the feelings and reactions I had when I went through that building were special and unique and it was an experience that I wanted others to have. Like I said, when I was in the building, I felt the presence of God.
And I doubt I was the only one.
Before the fire, each year 12 million people would enter the building all with different motivations and desires. I never entered that building expecting to encounter the presence of God, but I did. And I was willing to donate to a cause that facilitated that feeling for others. I honestly believe that my modest gift could help inspire others to be more responsible, more loving, more compassionate and more giving to other causes.
Philanthropy is not a Zero-Sum Game
When we think about philanthropy, we too often think about how individuals are limited in their giving. And maybe they are. And aside from the occasional challenge gift, do we ever think about how our giving might actually inspire the giving of others? It happens.
When we create an environment where giving is acknowledged, celebrated and received with gracious hearts, we can’t help but create an environment where more giving will occur. And when we give people the chance to give to the causes that are important to them - on their timing - and in amounts that they can handle, we aren’t just creating a new donor, we are creating a philanthropic environment that is inviting everyone to join in, including you and me.
I have had my say, what’s yours? Feel free to drop me a line at pinnaclestrategiesltd@gmail.com
Stay Well,
Bill
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