Gander, Newfoundland?

Okay, I was reading today a little about Gander, which means nothing to most of you, so I will explain.

Gander is a tiny town in the province of Newfoundland (Canada). Years ago when flying across the ocean first became popular, it was set up as an airport because planes could not make it all the way to New York from London on a single tank of fuel, so they set up an airport at the closest spot to London on North America, Gander.

When 9/11 hit, all aircraft had to be diverted. Not in use, the former international airport in Gander was a popular place to go because it had a large airfield (even if it wasn't in use) and many planes needed to burn more fuel diverting from their original destination, and again, Gander is the closest point to most air traffic coming in from the Atlantic. This small town suddenly had 6500 people appear.

The amazing part is what they did. Everything they could. They gave out every single hotel room for free, plus opened the library, school, churches, everywhere possible for people to sleep, including homes. The phone companies gave free long distance and internet access so people could call their families to let them know they were safe. They provided prescription medicine, again, free of charge. They fed every one of those 6500 people for a week, many people working long hours in food lines making sure that everyone was fed.

Can you imagine? An entire town coming together and giving out of the little they had? The generosity that was given with nothing asked for in return, many times to people who had more money than them at home, but were now powerless to use it. Massive amounts of kindness for nothing in return. We should try that this holiday season. Giving for no reason other than to give. We should give it a catchy nickname too, something that will help people to remember to do it. "Holiday Hoopla" or "December Generosity" or "Christmas Spirit"...

"Help them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back." Luke 6:35