The Gift of Receiving

                                                                

                                                                                

How often when we thank someone for a gift of time, or a kind act, or unwrapped package, do we hear the words, “Oh, it was nothing”, or “You would do the same”, or perhaps there is no response?  

I recall not long ago one evening, as I thanked some friends for inviting me into their home, that their response to me included the words, “You are welcome.” Their response conveyed to me that the evening had been a shared gift.  So I’ve been thinking about these words with this month’s blog theme on ‘giving’, and want to share some thoughts that come from this and other encounters experienced and observed.....

What if the words ‘thank you’ and ‘you are welcome’ are in fact gifts themselves? 

If the act of giving is a meaningful way to express caring, can we say the act of  ‘receiving’ offers the same?

If so, then whether we find ourselves on the giving or receiving side, are we not sharing the same gift?

Beyond the words ‘thank you’ and ‘you’re welcome’, are there other ways of receiving?

How does God receive us?

During a working project last week, I was drawn to this paper written by a science student.  The student wrote that as he had sought to consult with a professional scientist in order to fulfill his assignment, he wound up encountering 24 (recorded) reasons why no one would respond favorably to his request; none of which had to do with his work or abilities. He was left to wonder if the reason was due to his broken English. Being from another culture, he knew he expressed himself differently.  His efforts were not received, nor was he given the chance to say ‘thank you.’

What is it that inhibits us from outwardly receiving from another,….. or from our receiving someone other?  A few thoughts….To acknowledge receiving from another may call on you or I to let go of our pride, or shame, or perhaps a need to be ‘right’ or ‘in control’. To receive may call on us to walk in humility and grace. To receive may allow someone else to be Christ for us.  To receive may in fact be a Gift.

I’ve listed below some ways of Receiving, and invite you to add on your own ideas. 

      What if you and I were to….

>    Say ‘Thank you” when someone gives to us through action, words or other means

>    Say “You Are Welcome” when someone says ‘Thank you”.  By speaking this, we acknowledge one another, and the gift itself becomes part of our relationship.                                                           

>    Receive and welcome the Stranger in Our Midst.  “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2)   Not all strangers will be like you or I.  If we think of God as all-encompassing, and we are all created in God’s image, does it not then reason that we are each created wonderfully unique.

>    Receive the Gift from the Stranger – Not long ago during a ‘Come to Supper’ meal, as I placed some fruit on a guest’s plate, this person remembered me from the Homeless Shelter and asked if he could give me a hug.  I noticed faces watching us as if to say, “Well this is awkward.”  As I hugged him back, he thanked me for acknowledging his gift.  And as I offered him the same, we both continued on, neither of us a stranger.

>    Receive and respectfully allow the ‘newcomer’ or the one who differs from our 'norm'; to contribute. Remember the stranger and the angel?  We never know what doors the Holy Spirit might open up in our minds or hearts when someone introduces us to a new thought or way of being. Why close the door to new possibilities or even perhaps to God’s plan?

  

>   Encourage and give one another the space and place to give….and to receive?        

                                                         The Gift of Receiving                     

      God of Humility and Grace, I pray that I continue to grow in giving and receiving love, just as You first loved and gave to me. As I seek to give or to serve, may I also have the grace to receive others as they, too, seek to give and serve. 

Shalom,

Susan

Wide Open Giving

{Music}

When I had my business in Arizona I would often spend my off hours hiking in the desert. At an abandoned mining town I came across a water standpipe that had a thin trickle of water leaking out onto the dry, dusty, slag-strewn earth. In the little rivulet that trickle made, there grew a few blades of grass and the smallest white flower.  I marveled at how little water it took to bring life out.

As I continued to hike an image came into my mind – that of an immense water tank, ageless, its top unseen sitting in the middle of a vast desert. The tank was covered with thousands upon thousands of faucets. Some old, some new, some fashionable, some utilitarian, some large, some small – and all of them were open to some degree. Drips came from some, gushers from others and around the base of the tank and spreading into the desert were beautiful gardens fed by the life giving water.

This is my image of giving. We are all faucets capable of being the conduit of God’s grace in the thirsty world. We give of our time, talents and possessions – the signs of God’s gracious love to us – what He has first given us. 

Daily I need to ask how big the faucet is that God gave me.  Is it open? Is it open enough to show the world that I am thankful for the gifts I have been given? Can I open it further? Are there other places and people I can improve through the gifts I have been given?

Lord, let my life be wide open so your grace can flow through all that I say and do.

Amen.

Paul S.

The Gift of Giving

When I think of “giving” the first thing that comes to mind is “Money” and “How much?” but it is much more than money. There are the gifts of time, talents, kindness, understanding, openness, acceptance, etc.  Giving, no matter which kind, is important as it is a way to care for the world and the people in it.  We all have the opportunity to leave the world a better place than we found it by giving. Even more than that, if we give with a prayerful heart, then we get a gift of peacefulness. The gift of giving comes when you give from the heart. Prayerfully considering what your are going to give then giving that with joy. No matter what way you decide to give, try praying about what you should be giving to the world to help make it a better place, then give with your heart. Imagine what the world would look like if we all gave something. We can start to see that change by each one of us choosing to give to our world. Give from the heart and the gift of peace and goodness is yours forever.  The picture of the butterfly symbolizes all those things we naturally give by just being who we are already. Butterflies give beauty to the earth and make us smile by just being a butterfly. 

Eva Marie Restel

THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

~ Allowing Others To Be Who They Are

Is One Of The Most Valuable Gifts 

We Can Offer One Another ~

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The notion of writing about ‘Giving’, this month’s Faith Series theme, seems challenging to me: challenging, because the concept of ‘giving’ is so broad and multi-faceted. The word ‘giving’ is often used in reference to something offered materially, monetarily or by action…all of which are vital and invaluable contributions towards humanity. Lately though I’ve been thinking about a different kind of giving; about how I/we relate to ourselves and to one another.

One of the most giving persons I’ve known is my dear friend Susan. As social worker, animal rescuer, writer and volunteer; her lifetime was a tribute of giving.  Yet with everything she gave, none compared to the gift she gave others in just walking alongside them during some part of their journey. It was not that she liked everyone she met; rather that as Susan was present with others, she respectfully allowed them to be who they are. She seemed to have an instinctive knowing in her heart and spirit about how to just ‘accompany’ others in their journey. Part of this knowing grew out of her own life experiences and education, and part was her learning that we are all on the road, at any one time, to living as best as we are able at that time. 

Allowing others to truly be who they are; honestly, without judgment, snappy criticism, and/or gossip is one of the most valuable gifts we can offer one another. This gift of freedom and respect allows others to grow into becoming their own best selves, in relationships and in community.  In differing ways, this is a gift which allows us to experience love for ourselves and to mirror God’s love to one another. This really is a gift, this gift of 'accepting grace', which keeps on giving.

Most people believe in their hearts, or if not, they hope that God loves them unconditionally. The ability to openly accept others also helps us accept ourselves. This is not a gift that comes without discernment or conscience, but rather in knowing we are all living and growing within God’s Grace…with all our similarities and differences.   

I have been blessed in my life to have people near, far, and diseased who have and still do model what it means to love unconditionally. While this kind of love or 'accepting grace' does not show up all the time; when it does, even for a moment, it often casts a bright light of God’s love. We are all seekers, with stories, fashioned by the same Creator. 

In my own journey and work as chaplain or counselor, I’ve found when one’s story becomes more important than a relationship, the gift of ‘just being with and learning from another’ can grow dim. And in the process, so can the light which shines God’s accompanying love for us in our own daily walk.

In closing this blog note, I’m including a musical piece dedicated to those I have and do love, and to those I have avoided, as each person has and does continue to teach me what it means to love with acceptance and unconditionally.   The Enduring Gift of Accompaniment   

May the gift of 'accepting grace" shine in your life and in the lives of those you touch,

Susan

August Blog Series

August begins a blog series on the third of our Faith Practices - Give.  Please watch for new blogs in the next few weeks on this particular topic.  (And if you missed it - go back and read some of our past posts!  We covered Worship in June and Praying in July.)

"Giving is part of daily life. Givers recognize that giving really flows from receiving from the abundance of God. Givers do not count the cost of giving but behave beyond calculation. Giving is not always easy. Our human need for control sometimes limits or distorts our giving practices. Just as faithfulness is good in and of itself, so is generosity as it is a spiritual practice."

The ELCA recognizes seven Faith Practices that are meant to inspire us to develop patterns for living that characterize a life that is devoted to daily discipleship.  Click here for more information on the Faith Practices.... then click on each topic to dive a little deeper.

We pray that you find our blogs to be helpful and meaningful as you strive to model these practices in your own daily life.

Walking and Talking with God

When I accepted the invitation to become a ‘blogger’ on this website I thought I’d be writing once a month on a faith-related topic of my choice. No such luck. I found out there are faith-practice‘themes of the month’. My first assignment was for July, and wouldn’t you know it, the subject is prayer. Which is ironic, because I am such a lousy pray-er.

I really wanted to write about several of the other faith-practices. Like worship. Or Bible Study. One I could vent my laments over, and the other I could pontificate about and maybe educate. But I got prayer. This was definitely the work of the Holy Spirit. She’s big into humility, at least where I’m concerned. You’ve gotta love it. It’s either laugh or cry, you know? So I laugh at myself because if there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the Holy Spirit has a deliciously devious sense of humor.

So here I am, wondering what to say. I wish I knew some magic prayer formula that I could impart to you. I don’t think there is one. Do I believe in prayer? No. But I believe in the God I’m talking with and Who listens to me when I pray. Do I get down on my knees, fold my hands, bow my head and admit what a low-down dirty rotten scoundrel I am? No. I know that. God knows that. But mostly I don’t because I don’t think I’m all that bad. Am I perfect? No way. Do I do things I wish I hadn’t? That I’m sorry for? Sure. If I’ve hurt someone in a fit if pique, or inadvertently, I beat myself up, suck it up, and do what I can to make amends. I need to set things straight with that person. You know, get the log out of my eye before I think about the speck in another’s. Only then can I think about going to God with it.

When I do, finally, go to Him with it, I find that more often than not I have to refresh His memory. Then He reminds me that He gave me the Spirit to be my guide and counselor and then of course I have to thank Her for that elbow in the side or swift kick in the butt of my conscience that spurred me into the action I took.

I find I say ‘Thank you,’ a lot. I also walk a lot. It’s nigh unto impossible to walk and feel ungrateful at the same time. Yesterday an ambulance passed me, lights flashing, siren wailing as it turned toward the hospital. I said ‘Thank you’ for all those people who are and will work together to help this person in need.

Every day I thank God for myself, my husband, for the two of us together. For my children and their families. For my larger family and friends. For my Sacred Circle, my Spiritual Direction group, my Bible Study group. For my pastors and my church, for the larger church and the church universal. I thank God for how richly He has blessed each and all of us and yes, I ask that He continue to bless us.

Once while talking with a friend about prayer, I mentioned how often I say ‘Thank you’. She said, ‘How can you say God has blessed you richly when you sister died of cancer, your son-in-law committed suicide, you have two special needs granddaughters and your son was never married to your grandson’s mother? How can you feel blessed by all that?’

Well, I don’t. What I feel blessed with is the 54 years I had with my sister. I am grateful and feel blessed by the awesome strength of my daughter as she holds her family together and guides and nurtures her 3 teenage daughters toward healthy, promising futures. I am humbled by the strength and love and work my son and his wife put into their marriage so that it doesn’t shatter under the weight of raising 2 special (special needs) children. I am blessed by respect for my son for accepting fully his responsibilities for his son, and for the time, effort and money he puts into being a vital part of our grandson’s life.

I am grateful that they, we, all of us have been abundantly blessed with the strength that we need to be who we need to be when we need each other. For that I cannot say ‘Thank you’ often or profoundly enough. I simply lift them, and all for whom I pray to God - and trust.

That’s all I can do. Peace be with you as you continue to walk in the mystery.

~ Janet M.

Embracing the PASSION of Prayer!

A few weeks ago I had one of those unexpected ‘AHA’ moments that struck me like a whoosh of air entering a room.  I love music…all kinds…generations….instrumental and vocal.  Still, there are 3 sounds which especially speak to my soul and spirit: the strings of a violin, the soul of a sax, and the heartbeat of a drum.  That day I was listening to a favorite of mine, Russian born violinist, Maxim Vengerov.  The piece was Maxim Vengerov.  To get a sense of what I was listening to and observing, I invite you to listen to at least the first 2 minutes of this hour long piece.

What I heard and saw was a musician’s passion which transcended his music. and seemed to penetrate into other areas of his life...or maybe it was the other way around.  Anyway, I started thinking about how this kind of passion connects with prayer.

This month’s prayer blogs have focused on the methods and connecting avenues we can access for prayer.  Rachel shared information on ways to pray and Paul on ways of hyperlinking our lives to prayer. 

For many of us (self-included) prayer tends to be thought of in a more serious note, whether practiced alone or in community.  Yet what if prayer is not always plainly serious, whether we are giving thanks, offering praise, seeking healing, reflecting on God’s presence, or meditating? Listening to this YouTube piece led me to reflect on our senses: seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching....all orchestrated through our brain and heart, along with our thoughts and emotions.  Nothing extra-ordinary so far?  

Well bear with me.  Let’s say we believe our Creator fashioned us with all 5 senses, these organs, our soul and our spirit. YES!!!  A good place to start. I also believe our Creator has a sense of Joy, Humor, Compassion, Mercy, Tenderness, Anger, Justice, and…yes PASSION.  And that God is very passionate about all these tributes….and about you and me!  So what does this have to do with our passion in prayer?  Just that you and I were created in God’s image, with a divine spirit.  If prayer is a way for us to connect with and relate to and with God….then passion in prayer is a good thing!  

Still, I have to say there are times when my prayers are subdued, pensive, no so passionate and very still.  So when I speak about the passion of prayer, I’m not referring to assertive shouts or hallelujahs (though this is okay! )....but rather to engaging our senses, our heart, our reflections, and our spirits. 

Here are some suggestions:

*  Feel closer to God in nature?  Utter a prayer while you breathe in the air and soak in the colors, get close to the earth.

*  Like to create?  Invite God to be with you in your hands, your eyes, your spirit…and let yourself feel God’s presence in your work (i.e. Maxim Vengerov)

*  If the words won’t come….try this link for praying in color.  Praying in Color

*  Music?  Listen to a favorite piece and sing, move around, or imagine playing an instrument and feel God’s presence in your movements.  You to might utter a prayer of thanksgiving or joy.

*  Like to write?  A journal of gratitude prayers does wonders for the soul.

*  Enjoy food (who doesn’t)?  Offering thanks for what we have and praying for those who don’t is the best seasoning.

*  Evening prayers…light a candle, read a poem, listen to the end of the day and sense the quietude.   Evening Meditations

*  Is there a prayer ritual which connects you with your roots…your heart.   Here is one of mine: Sabbath Prayer around the world  

*  Meditation?  Meditation journeys

I encourage you to engage one or more of your five senses, including your heart and your soul. If this is new to you….start by trying one small thing and make it a habit.  Play around ‘til you find a new comfort zone…and then explore using another sense.

We are created to be fully alive, as much as we are able. Should our prayers not be the same?  Just as I ask the breath of God, the Holy Spirit to walk with me in exploring new ways of bringing passion in my prayers.  I invite you to give this a try.  

Come as you are, wherever you are, and bring your senses with you.  Passion in prayer can be  catchy :)

Susan