In Turkey, the bakers have a practice called, “on the hook.”
If a customer comes to the bakery, and they are feeling generous and have a few extra shekels to spare, they will buy an additional loaf of bread and put it, “on the hook.”
Almost always, someone will come to the bakery, perhaps a family that’s down on their luck, and will ask the baker if there is anything “on the hook.” If there is, the baker will give them the additional loaf.
Giving without acknowledgment in this way is special.
As we look into 2021, caring for the sake of caring is what we need more of. I’m no baker, but this year I will give more for the sake of giving.
Although it won’t be fresh-baked bread, perhaps it can be something intangible, like listening, or a call to a friend/family member that I haven’t talk to in a while to say, “I’ve been thinking about you, hope you’re okay.”
I leave you today, with a quote from Muhammad Ali — “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth”