Why I Have Canceled My Groupon Subscription ...

Last week I posted How Botched Groupon Purchase Led To This...

But then on Friday, I read a post on my Facebook account that sickened me.

Nothing surprises me anymore - but again, it's all about money and demand...

Groupon says it's ok to abuse & torture women 

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I checked it out and found out that Groupon does indeed have an offer running right now for live tours of a porn studio in California called Kink.  Although pornography, in and of itself, sickens me, the real deal for me is the connection between pornography and human trafficking.  Pornography drives demand.   I've canceled my Groupon subscription and written Groupon to let them know why.

Honestly, I doubt it will make a difference to Groupon.  They sent me a standardized form letter right away.  However, one cancellation after another cancellation after another cancellation could make a difference.  I hope so.

But, it's about more than this.  It's about my integrity.  And it's about me living out my faith in the world.

When I become aware of a social justice issue or a humanitarian issue, I'm accountable.  When I hear of a neighbor who is sick or hungry, I'm accountable.  What I learned in Ukraine from Albina has stuck. Double negatives aside,  I can't do nothing.  We can't do nothing.

But here's what we can do:

1. Prayerfully read the Bible.  Jesus was so in tune with the Father that he knew who to confront, who to who to comfort, who to bring back to life.  By reading my Bible, particularly the gospels, particularly the book of John, I rivet my gaze to the face of Jesus and get to know him, his heart, his actions.  More than working hard to model my life after Jesus, I fall deeper in love with Jesus and find his life welling up inside of me.  Completely miraculous.
2. Prayerfully engage. Stuff is happening all around us.  It is absolutely true that you can't do everything about every single humanitarian or justice issue in the world, in your community, in your neighborhood.  Ask God to show you a few issues that are on his heart that resonate with your passions, your experiences, your gifts and abilities. 
3. Prayerfully act.  Perhaps you'll cancel your Groupon subscription too.  Perhaps you'll drink only Fairtrade coffee and buy Fairtrade chocolate.  Perhaps you'll walk 60 miles in 3 days to erase breast cancer,  or travel with Children's Hope Chest, or contribute to Reece's Rainbow to help an orphan who has Down's Syndrome get out of an institution and into a family.  The point is to do something and keep doing something.

Cancelling my Groupon subscription is a really, really small thing.  It's definitely not everything that I could do, but it's also not nothing.

So, what about you?  What are the issues that compel you to act?  I'd love to know!