What might I give?

Giving and Receiving

“If we take all the time, this is selfish and will bring suffering.  If we give all the time, this will lead to resentment and exhaustion and will bring suffering as well.  Real joy is to be found in the balance between giving and taking.  Like breathing we must both inhale and exhale.  Inhaling is not superior to exhaling; one is no more noble or good than the other.  They are both necessary.  To name our gift is to also name our need.”

                                                Wayne Muller

                                                How Then Shall We Live

            In the aftermath of natural disasters, such as the tsunami and the tornados and now the flooding of the Mississippi, we may develop what I call ‘compassion fatigue.’ Since January, we’ve had a steady diet of revolution, disaster, devastation and human misery every single day in our news, and it isn’t over yet.  People have given and given and given and many of us are truly tapped out.  In our local area, there is a constant stream of need and a constant stream of people providing for those needs.  It warms the heart, and breaks the back.  Even in times as difficult as these, it is important to find some balance between giving and taking. 

            Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.”  Giving in times of dire need, and even in good times, often comes from a genuine desire to share what God has so generously provided.  It is noble and creates within us a serene joy.  Giving from a fullness of heart is the best of human responses, but giving from an empty well is something else all together.  One of the ways we can bring some balance to giving and receiving is to know what our particular gifts are and give from that place.  When we are giving from an abundance of gifts and talents, we are less likely to become depleted than if our giving is motivated by guilt or shame or any other feeling of insufficiency.  Being honest about what one can do and what one can not is also noble.

            What are my gifts and how might they connect with the needs of the world?  What might I be able to give that would be of benefit to others and not exhaust me financially, physically or emotionally?  How can I respond to these overwhelming needs and still keep some balance?  These are good questions to ask and answer in these difficult times.

                                                Keeping the faith,

                                                Jane