Spiritually Speaking: What Can Be Shared, What Must Be Shared

Many people dread writing thank you notes. Many more people don’t write thank you notes at all. And while I don’t have many things together – the laundry is piled high as I write this and the dishwasher needs to be run- writing notes of thanks is something I actually enjoy on my to-do list. For me, thank you notes aren’t a to-do but a spiritual practice.

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give,” said the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

Churchill knew that generosity was beyond money in one’s pocket given as the widow’s mite. That was a part of it, but in order to rebuild a nation in the wake of a world war, Churchill envisioned a generosity that was as much about a disposition of collective care and agency as it was about monetary power. Generosity for Churchill was one of the founding values that would bring broken people to their own hope.

Thank you notes remind me of the generosity of the people in this world. Each note is a small affirmation of my belief and experience of generosity - as well as an affirmation that I have received a gift. There is a direct relationship between expressing gratitude and cultivating a spirit of generosity. When we feel we have been the recipients of gifts- no matter how small- we are obligated by these gifts to give back to the universe from our wealth.

It is in this giving that we discover how to make a life. Giving of our time, our efforts, our particular skills, our words, and our voice create a life beyond the particularities of employment, identifiers, income, and assets.

This kind of generosity is learned behavior. When I was a small child, my mother handed me a pen and paper to write my first thank you note. It seemed tedious at the time, but over the years I learned to articulate my gratitude and cultivate generosity - even for the small gifts and often for the ones I may not have wanted at the time (a Christmas sweater instead of a new doll).

As we approach this season of gift giving and receiving, I invite you to consider how generosity informs how we might better delve deeper into the opportunity and expression of gratitude. If we didn’t give out of obligation or competition, why might we give? How could we make a life in giving?

And as we receive gifts, how do we make space for the gratitude for what’s been given, even the presents that are far from perfect?

I invite you into a reason for the season, beyond the catch phrases or Christ, into a spiritual journey walked by a humble, grateful man well over two-thousand years ago.

In faith and care,

Rev. Robin

Spiritually Speaking: A Generous People

We are a generous people.  I know this from the people who are in our congregation, people who inspire me.

There is the man who believes that giving time to weed and craft each corner into an outdoor shrine is a spiritual act.  He spends hours at our congregation so that someone will walk through our doors and be inspired, touched, perhaps even healed by our natural environment.

There is the woman who gives generously of her resources.  After taxes, bills, food, and life essentials are paid for, she shares with us each month over half of what is left.  It is $20, and I am humbled by this act, placed in the basket each month.  This money helps us continue to care for each other and our community, to truly make the world we live in a better place for our children.

There is the person who works all week, sometimes with 12-hour days, in finance.  They come in after this work week to help us with financials, to give us skills that we likely couldn’t afford; they ensure the checks are cut to the charities, the staff, and the power company to keep the church lit.

There are many more I couldn’t name.  Some greet before each church service, being the face of welcome to everyone who comes through our doors.  Some sit on teams or committees and search for the right words to tell the world who we are.  Some clean-up the kitchen and make coffee.  Some come into the office and make copies, send emails, and welcome visitors.

We are a generous people.

This month with the theme of service, we will celebrate the generosity within our community as well as the gifts many of us offer outside of our community.  It is said that many progressive people actually tithe, the old practice of giving 10% of one’s income to the church.  We tithe by giving both to our congregation and the rest out in the world!  Charitable organizations, non-profits, and advocacy groups are the recipients of countless Unitarian Universalist supporters.

We are often quiet in our generosity, private about our giving.  Nonetheless, we are a generous people who believe in the act of service.

So why do we believe in generosity?  Why do we hold up service as one of the basic elements of our faith?

It’s true that some of us were raised with the values of generosity and service, but many of us were also raised in the consumer culture of more and more.  Yet we’ve made bold, different decisions.  Why?

Come join us in exploring the deep roots of service in Unitarian Universalism, something that is even crafted into our symbol the chalice.  We’ll consider how to sustain service for our children and their children, and celebrate service in our very midst!

With gratitude for the journey and companions on the path,

Rev. Robin