Photo by Tyler Casey on Unsplash
The unprecedented change that the internet has achieved is nothing short of mind blowing. And yet, we don’t even think twice about it.
I’m not even referring to email and websites, that’s just a regular part of life nowadays. There are much more interesting developments that have been enabled by the internet. Crowdsourcing, using the power of a crowd to find solutions to problems, raise funds or even develop new products, is a fascinating concept that has existed for ages but has been supercharged by the internet.
Then there’s the “sharing economy”; that car you’re not driving all the time can be used to drive people to their destination and earn a few dollars. The parking space that you own, the clothes you’ve outgrown; they can be easily rented, sold or bartered. The room in your house that’s not used all the time? It can be rented out and be a source of income. However, while I’d venture to say that most of us have taken advantage of the convenience of these services, not all of us would be comfortable providing them. While we may have an extra room in our home - it’s only used when family comes to visit - we still wouldn’t list it on Airbnb. It’s difficult to host guests; they take over some of your space and command your attention. You can’t just be yourself, even in your own home. Not everyone is ready to do that. Can you imagine not just renting out a room but converting your entire home into a hotel? And not only occasionally hosting those who find out about it, rather going out and actively marketing it. This is what our ancestor Abraham did. He didn’t live in his own home and mind his own business; he went out and shared whatever he had with others. He actively looked for guests to host - even when recovering from his circumcision (which he underwent at the spright age of 99). The internet certainly expanded the Airbnb concept, but Abraham and his wife Sarah were the first to run an Airbnb. Abraham and Sarah’s Airbnb was an oasis in the desert; they provided food, drink and lodging to all passers-by. Like Airbnb, people were drawn to stay with them based on the excellent 5-star rating, reviewed by thousands of visitors; unlike Airbnb, they didn’t charge a penny for their service. Well, that is, they didn’t charge if you agreed to pass on the favor. To share with others what you had learned. They used their home to host people and to provide guidance and uplift the visitors. Abraham and Sarah shared with their guests the ethical monotheism that they espoused and provided their guests with the tools needed to improve their own lives and the lives of those around them. Abraham and Sarah’s tent highlights how we can live the best life: sharing openly with others, providing life stabilizing guidance to those with whom we come in contact and not being intimidated when our path is not the most popular. Abraham and Sarah’s experience assuages a common concern - if we give too much we won’t have anything left for ourselves. In fact, they were blessed with great physical and spiritual wealth. The not-so-secret truth is that the more you give, the more you get.
