Generous Lives, Generous Love

Our Synod’s theme these past two years has been and is ‘Generous Lives, Generous Love”. This simply worded statement covers a lot of ground, on many levels, and can lead to many questions, which it does. The most obvious one asks ‘Does what we give depend on what we have?” Many Christians might say “No, we give because it is the right thing to do”.

While I am often in awe of what people give of their time and treasures; and respectfully admire folks who seek to do “the right thing”, I believe there is more to the concept of ‘generous lives and love’ than doing the right thing. In my reflections, four traits or gifts come to mind: perspective, gratitude, humbleness, and grace …four traits which are separate, yet intertwined. 

In the Gospel stories, when Jesus accepted the Pharisee Simon’s invite to dine at his house, Simon never expected an uninvited guest, a poor woman with little financial or communal means, to daringly approach Jesus and wash or anoint his feet…..nor would he ever think Jesus would respond by accepting her presence. I suspect this ‘low cast’ woman knew she would be scorned by others. As a woman with sins and of no means, she would not have been seen as living a ‘generous life’.  What then would prompt her to so boldly (in the midst of her possible fears and shame) give so generously? 

I am drawn to this story; to her perspective, humility, and faith as she ventured to act in response to her gratitude for healing and renewed life in Jesus. This bold, spontaneous act did not count the cost of probable rejection or recognition from her community. She just gave generously out of love.

As this woman gave so freely; so begs the question. “What does it mean to live a Generous Life?”  Is it as simple as being mindful and grateful for ‘life itself’….for God’s love and creation every day. This is no cliché. Today, in the midst of our progressive busy lives, where technology enables us to move about with little time for reflection, my experience has been many people often regret not taking the time each day to be mindfully thankful.     

The poor, peasant woman, who approached Jesus before his sacrifice on the Cross, seemed to know about being thankful, and about God’s forgiveness. Her expression of thanksgiving understood God’s grace and generous love. 

How then do you and I define generous love amongst ourselves?  Do we love and/or give from ourselves or through God’s generousity?  One of the most challenging lessons I’ve learned about giving came about by allowing another person to walk alongside me. I will say straight out that writing about this is humbling.  Much of my life had been lived independently, thankful to God for my life, yet caught up in relying on myself.  Sound at all familiar to you? 

Several years ago, following a car accident, a respected pastor recruited someone to walk alongside me during my recovery. Admittedly, I was not a happy camper about this, and in the beginning resisted receiving outside help. Yet, as I allowed another to freely give to me, I learned about being humble, and about giving by receiving as I experienced God's Spirit in our encounters. In my healing, I learned a deeper sense of life within God’s community, and how the Holy Spirit works when we get out of our own way. 

Being ‘humble’ and recognizing ‘God’s grace and generosity’ is a good thing….it is what enables and empowers us to live generous lives and love generously, within whatever community we encounter.  I pray your days are colored with seeing God's generosity in your life and that your giving comes from this very same Grace.

Generous Love in Christ

Shalom,

Susan