I've been thinking about generosity lately.
I don't have a lot of money right now. I haven't had much money for the past four+ years, while I've been a student. Now, I've stopped working, for my move and transition, and so I need to be even more careful. Probably many of you are in a similar position: we watch what we spend, we are afraid that there won't be enough, we worry about the future, we hold on to what we have.
"And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?"
That's how my parents raised me: "we might not have enough!" One year, they gave each other new tires for Christmas. And sure, maybe there's nothing wrong with that. But what happens to the level of fear in our lives when we always worry we might "run out," of money or time or whatever? WE of all people, in the richest country in the world, with all our appliances, articles of clothing, choices of foods, and yes, we even have decent homeless shelters.
In this time where I feel especially pinched, I've been trying not to be anxious. I've been trying to believe that I have enough. Maybe even that I have more than enough. Even though I still only own one collar shirt. (Crazy, I know.)
"Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?"
As I anticipate having a salary again, I've been thinking more about generosity. I've been thinking about how to give away what I have -- money, talents, love, kindness, joy -- and not be scared about it. I've been thinking about tithing. I've been thinking about believing that there is enough for me to enjoy my life and for me to give away a chunk to help other people enjoy theirs, or even just survive.
But it's hard, because this belief that "There isn't enough" is so deep inside my head.
"Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you."
I'll let you know how it goes this year...
Anyone else tried tithing?
It's Friday night and I thought I would stop by and see how things are going. Your blog has caused me to pause and reflect. The question though simple is multi faceted and I cannot do it justice in this short period.
ReplyDeleteThe photo from the last blog was very insightful in a pleasant way. I have heard artist/photographers complaining that with the increase in digital much is lost in the always, boring staged photos one decides to present to the public. that often it is the bad shot not centered or the one with the screwed up face that really and truly portrays the person.
But its Friday Night! Oh! Lest I forget I wanted to stop by and say we at St. Benedict's are looking forward to seeing you soon! :-)
bdspinning
we tithe... we've had some tight times since we started, but no more than before, and i'm glad we do it.
ReplyDeletemaybe more thoughts later.
i do think that tithing encourages trust in abundance, pass of 10% right away... you're freer...
ReplyDeletetry it for three months.
this transition is actually a good time to experiment.
I heard what was one of the worst stewardship sermons of my life today. It was soooooooo bad. I'm kean on how the experiment goes.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds very interesting. I do think it's true that we tend to spend whatever discretionary income we have, and it could almost always be used better.
Let us know how it goes!
I started tithing about 7-8 years ago after a discussion with someone about the offertory sentence, "All things come of thee, O Lord, and of thine own have we given thee." Did I really believe that? Was it "my" money that I earned, or God's gift with which I'd been entrusted? If it's 'gift', then it's found money, so to speak, and easier to give away as gift - no strings attached. Truth be told, it took me about 2 years to adjust my budget, but thereafter, I just filled in that 10% box on the pledge card, and never looked back. Somehow, amazingly, the rest of my expenses just accomodated this off-the-top deduction.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth