Yesterday Tom Knapp made a donation, forgetting he’d already given at the beginning of the fundraiser. <\/p>\n
Knowing he and Rational Review<\/a> are supported by donations themselves, I was about to refund the duplicate when he emailed to say not to. He’d just opened an envelope and found many times that.<\/p>\n He wrote in comments<\/a>:<\/p>\n I know some people here are not religious\/mystical, and really don\u2019t consider myself ESPECIALLY so. But I do believe in karma and the whole \u201ccast your bread on the waters<\/a> and it will return to you\u201d thing.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n I’m one of those non-religious\/mystical types. But Tom inspired me. The blog’s (and Cabal’s) volunteer admins deserve a small share of the fundraiser. I was waiting to see how it went before sending them anything, but I decided to PayPal them a token of good hope.<\/p>\n Less than half an hour later, I received a payment that covered everything I’d just paid out.<\/p>\n I fear that sounds like a particularly sappy Sunday School lesson. But it’s the way it happened.<\/p>\n —–<\/p>\n I have a friend who is<\/em> one of those religious\/mystical types. He sees patterns in places I would never perceive them. But enough odd, coincidental things happen to and around him that I have to suspend disbelief. Especially since a few of those things involve me.<\/p>\n Earlier this month, for instance, I was hit by a sudden conviction that a picture I owned rightfully belonged to him. I put it in the mail the next morning. It turned out he had nearly bought a similar image a few days earlier but had decided to postpone the purchase for a week.<\/p>\n He has also sent me either items or messages that arrived at uncannily “right” times.<\/p>\n He calls such happenings “patternicity.” I don’t know what to call them or what to make of them. My rational self says it’s merely the human mind seeking meanings in random events.<\/p>\n But they do happen to, and around, him a lot. Much falls into the category of “bread upon the waters.”<\/p>\n —–<\/p>\n I apologize for being in a sour mood yesterday. I’m not feeling well (doctor appointment is set for early June). <\/p>\n I’m also distressed by the perception expressed by several Commentariat members<\/a> including coloradohermit and fred that many potential contributors took Anonymous Wonderman’s matching gift offer<\/a> the wrong way.<\/p>\n Instead of “Wow! Thanks to Anonymous we can double Claire’s reward!” It seems quite a few took it to mean, “Now I don’t have to bother because some rich guy’s got it covered.”<\/p>\n FWIW, I don’t think Anonymous Wonderman is rich, but I’m sure<\/em> he didn’t intend his offer to be used that way. I may have done a disservice by mentioning it on the blog at all.<\/p>\n Anyhow, it true that if we don’t get another dime, we’ve “got it covered.” But I would like to believe that more readers consider the blog worth paying for — as fred said, even five or 10 bux worth.<\/p>\n I’ve decided to (try to) let go of my anxiety about that, though. The fundraiser will be what it will be and I can’t improve it by getting crabby. <\/p>\n As the month comes to a close, I’ll append more “please give” messages to the bottom of posts (thank you, BD), but I’ll also do my best to avoid nags. And do my best to put the emphasis on gratitude — which is actually pretty easy given the good people hereabouts.<\/p>\n —–<\/p>\n