Discovering Love: Wisdom from the early 17th century

and how it relates to helping others in the 21^st century

Twelve generations ago, there was an English minister who was educated at Cambridge University, which is to say that he graduated from an institution with a Church of England (Anglican) faculty, about 60 years after the split with Catholicism.

But John Robinson began to preach a Separatist message, similar to what the Puritan sect taught, that the Anglicans hadn’t purified the church enough of its rituals, liturgy, pomp, and “distracting” music and art in churches. Separatists and Puritans wanted highly educated clergy, not social appointments of unqualified priests and bishops.

Robinson (my direct ancestor) associated with other Separatists during the early years of his ministry, and by 1608 was one of the leaders of people who called themselves Pilgrims. The Mayflower Pilgrims. He and the Pilgrims moved first to Amsterdam, then Leiden, and in 1621, scores of them took ship for “Virginia,” but ended up at Massachusetts Bay. John Robinson and his wife Bridget had intended to join the Pilgrims, but between shepherding the remainder of the English flock in Leiden, and then John’s death at age 49, it was left to his children to emigrate to New England.

Below is a paragraph I’ve copied from one of John Robinson’s numerous tracts, booklets, and correspondence, collected into three dense volumes. For those who weren’t raised on King James’ English dialect, I’ll give you a simplified, American-English version first.

John Robinson’s ninth great-granddaughter translates:
God has made humans to be in community with others and has allowed us to form families and organizations (religious, political, or community, whether for-profit or nonprofit) where we can unite for the betterment of ourselves and others. But no one is so devoid of abilities or finances that you have nothing with which to help others, or to be helped by others. Like limbs of the body, or the head of the body, we can’t say, “I have no need of a foot or hand or head—I can do this on my own.” If you have health and strength and abilities, and need nothing from others, the more need others have of you and what you possess in abundance.

John Robinson originally wrote:

‘God hath made man a sociable creature; and hath not only ordained several societies, in which persons are to unite themselves for their mutual welfare; but withal so dispensed his blessings, as that no man is so barren, but hath something wherewith to profit others: nor any so furnished, but that he stands need of others to supply his wants. "The head cannot say to the foot," much less the foot to the head, "I have no need of thee." And the less need thou, by reason of thine abundance of bodily or spiritual endowments, hast of others, the more need they have of thee and thy plenty.’

How does Robinson’s advice look in the 21^st century? We can all find ways to be of service to others.

☑️ Collect new clothes and food for your church or community to distribute
☑️ Cooking and baking for a homeless shelter or refugee center
☑️ Some can donate blood or platelets to save lives or improve quality of life for cancer, dialysis, or surgical patients
☑️ Volunteer at your child’s school, to help teachers or read aloud
☑️ Donate money to your church’s benevolence fund, to help with dental or medical bills, rent, utilities, or groceries
☑️ Help a food bank with distribution (filling bags and boxes, taking the groceries to the waiting cars, etc.)
☑️ Drive people to appointments for chemotherapy or surgery

☑️ Play a musical instrument at a senior center
☑️ Volunteer at a hospital or children’s hospital (this may require a little training, but probably not certification)
☑️ If you know a friend who volunteers, ask if you can come along to observe or help

☑️ Quilt, knit, or crochet an item to be auctioned for charity

☑️ Clean the beach, rescue animals, recycle, or plant trees for a lovelier environment

For 40 years, I’ve been a volunteer in some of the roles listed above. For a good portion of that time, I was a state leader for an organization that had a different purpose, but which participated in volunteering as a social activity where we could serve others but also become closer friends. Even our school-age children helped. I saw people who had been sad or depressed about their own circumstances turn into enthusiastic, fulfilled helpers because they stopped gazing at their own navels and started looking into the eyes of fellow human beings. I saw kindergarten-age children learn foreign words for food so they could serve refugees at the buffet line. I saw bored retirees take on projects that gave them new hope and a new social life. I saw a friend in a power wheelchair become a valued member of a kitchen team that supplied three community feeding programs.

Personally, I think that what God gave me as an unearned gift, I can share with others, be it donating my healthy blood, baking humble corn muffins 16 dozen at a time, or cutting vegetables and buttering bread for a charity that has religious beliefs quite different from my own. When someone is hurting, I can listen. I’ve witnessed miracles that cannot be explained. I’ve seen little children grow up to be kind, compassionate young adults.

And you can do all these things and more!

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Articles I've written about John Robinson:

https://rootingforancestors.blogspot.com/2021/06/mayflower401.html

https://rootingforancestors.blogspot.com/2020/10/a-benefactor-of-world-ancestor-of.html

https://rootingforancestors.blogspot.com/2015/09/onthisday-16-september-strangers-and.html

https://rootingforancestors.blogspot.com/2013/06/pilgrim-pastors-signature-on-seditious.html

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