Ask anyone I taught at a college in the past quarter century what two things my classes couldn’t do. First, they couldn’t call me Dr., Professor, or Mr. Campbell. My name was Al.

The reason for using my name indicated that we would be working together to understand the material in the course. It was to be a joint endeavor. The only exception was during my last class before retiring, which was an online class. Ti Ti, my granddaughter, took the class while living in Myanmar. She used PaPa Al.

The other thing that my students couldn’t do was plagiarize. Cutting and pasting some from the Internet wasn’t learning information. It was merely copying something that someone else wrote.

My classes also heard me use a saying, which I came up with. It is in giving that we get. At the beginning of every semester, I tell the class not to plagiarize. As I warn them, I wonder about the genesis of my saying.

I am either a genius or someone wrote something similar. So, I googled it. St. Francis said, “For it is in giving that we receive.” My saying isn’t as poetic as his was, but we both meant the same thing. The act of giving time, talent, or money benefits the recipient. I have known that one-liner since I was in high school. Nonetheless, I missed his message until my twilight years. St. Francis meant that the recipient benefits from the gift, but of equal importance, the giver also benefits by giving.

I have supported my family financially for a decade. A strange feeling comes over me when I send wire transfers to them. Let me tell you a secret: St. Francis was correct. The giver also gets. It doesn’t make any difference what you give. If you help someone else with care and support, you are a beneficiary of your gift as much as the recipient. Now, if you don’t grasp that reality, help someone. St. Francis and I understand the very essence of love and care.

The second part of this essay concerns those with less money giving to others in need. Percentage-wise, the less wealthy give more of their time or talent than the rich. I just got an email from Moh Moh, Ti Ti’s mother.

Allen,

This morning, we went to Inlay Lake for some sharing due to the huge earthquake(7.7M) and many victims.

We share them somethings that are very helpful for their home rebuilding.

We also donate to them some money with your name you gave us. This is a picture of an Inlay Lake person and her home.

She will use our help to rebuild.

I want to share happiness with you. Besides, you are always in our hearts.

You posted these pictures of Inlay Lake years ago on your trips to visit our family.. It doesn’t look that way now.

We saw, the hotel, where you were here in the first time of your visit was 80% damaged.

Also , many villages were damaged a lot.

Also, I am not successfully sent yet the A Ngal's video due to video size was big and connection was not good enough for that video size.

Also , I took the video in Inlay Lake damaging area. I’ll send it you with WhatsApp.

Send our much love and hugs

Take care,

MOH MOH

Moh Moh and Ko Ko took a boat ride on Inlay Lake and took this video of what they saw.

These are some of Moh Moh’s photos that she posted on WhatsApp. I have been on Inlay Lake on each of my treks to Myanmar. Click on Travels. Each time, I was fascinated by the lake and the surrounding area. Of the dozen photos, this is the only one I recognized. It was one of the four photos that Moh Moh posted.

As you scroll through the devastation, remember that percentage-wise, the less wealthy give more of their time or talent than the rich. If you have money and talent, are you spending it well?