April 22, 2021

April 22, 2021

As you know, toilet paper (TP) has been in the news as of late. Thanks to that massive container ship that blocked the Suez Canal for six days, experts said the TP shortage of a year ago, when the pandemic first hit could return. I wouldn’t be surprised if even now people are rushing to Costco and Sam’s to stock up!

I address this sensitive subject because Sue and I have decided to try using a new source for this essential product. We’re ordering our TP from a company called, “Who Gives a Crap?” (I apologize for their crude humor). It was founded by three Australian friends, Danny, Simon and Jehan. In their own words, here’s why they have made toilet paper their life’s work:
“We love toilet paper because for us, it’s our way of making a difference. We started ‘Who Gives A Crap’ when we learnt that 2.4 billion people don’t have access to a toilet. That’s roughly 40% of the global population and means that around 289,000 children under five die every year from diarrheal diseases caused by poor water and sanitation. That’s almost 800 children per day, or one child every two minutes. Though we’re still growing, and now make more than just toilet paper, we always want to stay true to our roots: toilet humor and making the world a better place.”

These three friends donate 50% of their profits to help build toilets because, “We believe access to a safe, dignified loo is a basic human right…so far we’ve been able to donate over $5.7 million to help provide proper sanitation for the 2 billion people in need.”

Of course, there are lots of companies out there like this---companies that strive to make a difference in this fallen world---companies like:

• TOMS Shoes - gives a pair to a needy person for every pair sold
• One World Play Project – sells indestructible soccer balls and provides the same for kids in impoverished countries.
• Bombas – sells merino wool socks and provides the same for under-resourced people.
• Smile Squared – sells toothbrushes and provides the same for people who don’t enjoy this blessing.
• BetterWorld Books - sells new and used books and so far, has raised more than $18 million for global literacy and local libraries. They’ve also diverted more than 73,000 tons of books from landfills.

These are all great companies and, whereas I have no way of knowing, I imagine they employ lots of Christians.

I think it’s wonderful to buy these kinds of products, but remember the only way we make a real, lasting difference in this fallen world, is by sharing the Gospel---the CURE for the sin-sickness that is at the core of ALL the world’s problems. That sickness rests in the heart of every human being. So, to change the world---to make a REAL difference---people must be changed and only Jesus can do that.

As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5: “God made Him Who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
 
 Keep the SON in your eyes!
Mark