Making the invisible visible

July 14, 2021

« On ne voit bien qu’avec le coeur. L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux. »

— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

I have talked a lot about values and solidarity elsewhere in this journal.  One of the missions of VIVACE is to find ways to make solidarity grow.  In business, in art, in life. 

I have thought a lot about solidarity during this pandemic and what it means today, particularly on this Bastille Day.

In a lot of ways, the word solidarity is just another way of saying fraternité, which is one of the three core values of the French Republic.

So, how can we build more fraternité into our work and our lives?

I have had the chance to work with two French associations over the last year—Chemins d’avenirs, which focuses on building professional opportunities for youth in rural parts of France and Petits Frères des Pauvres, which supports the elderly through companionship. 

Both appealed to me for different reasons but both seek to make the invisible visible in different ways. 

Any parent or caretaker knows that caring for someone else is not always easy.  It’s time-consuming.  It’s tiring.  It involves lots of small decisions to prioritize someone else’s well-being.  Sometimes over our own. 

Volunteering has helped me grow in a number of ways.  For me, it is an extension of a true belief that it is through helping others that we fulfil our purpose in life.  It’s also a reflection of my own spiritual journey.

If everyone gave their time and talent to those in need, our world could be dramatically improved.  Giving of oneself is much more meaningful than making a financial donation.  Charity donations don’t have the same effect.  It’s not about doing something “for” someone; it’s about doing something “with” someone.  It’s about devoting one’s time and attention. 

But it can’t be forced; it has to be incentivized.  What policy decisions can we take to do that? How can we incentivize citizens to devote their time and attention to their community? How can we strengthen communities so that no one is invisible?

CPM