It’s that time of the year again: Stewardship season. These next couple of weeks will be the time
faith communities gather together to celebrate what they have together and how
each person can better understand the gifts they bring to the community. It is about financial commitment, yes, but it
is also about paying attention to the relationship one has with their
community. Sometimes it is a rocky
relationship, other times it is wonderful.
Each person brings who they are and what they have to give,
and hopefully those things are not the left overs of their life, but are the
first fruits. There are times when
individuals feel very blessed and secure in their relationships with the Holy
and with the faithful community that nurture their relationship. Giving is much easier when all is going
well.
It is also easy to give when in pain. Knowing that the community is also there to
nurture us when we hurt or are sick, asking and receiving help, feeling the
healing power of prayer in all its manifestations all are markers for giving as
well.
What of those in between times, when life is status
quo? Perhaps being involved in the
community is not a priority because life seems to be running smoothly. Maybe time with God does not mean time in
communal worship. Pledging financial or
time resources may not seem so important, but it may be easy to just do it
because it is always done.
At the church I am interning at, we call this coming Sunday “Gratitude
Sunday.” Other churches call it their “In-gathering.” It is our time to recognize what we have been
abundantly given and what we can return with thanksgiving. It may be more time than money. It may be more money than time. The seasons of our lives often dictate our
ability to give of ourselves.
What I think may be
more important is that we spend some time thinking about, reflecting upon and
praying to figure out what our faith means to us and how we can express our
thanksgiving through our own ability to give.
How do we develop our relationship with our Holy One? Where do we feel most connected to life? Does our faith community help us develop a
stronger tie with God? In what
ways? What can we give of ourselves to
experience boundless opportunities for growth?
My spouse and I have always given more time, more energy,
more moments than we have given money to our faith community. I think that began because we just plain didn't
have the financial ability to give much.
We found that by doing and being and participating in life, in our faith
community, in the organizations we believe in, we are tapping the greater
resource. Sometimes that gift of time,
energy and action tap and zap us more than a monetary gift. But through our activity we have modeled
leadership and possibilities and developed relationships that matter to us and
to our kids. Being active in so many
things has helped us to grow and become more than what we may have become if we
had simply written a check.
I’m not negating the value of writing a check. Financial resources are necessary to maintain
programs, staff, buildings and grounds.
Money is needed to keep doors open and philanthropic endeavors
going. We need to give financially!
I need to think and pray and reflect upon all that I am
grateful for because of all that has been given to me. I must consider the pain and sorrow as well
as the happiness and joy. It would be
foolish to not think of how different experiences have affected me and where I
have seen the Holy, especially when seeing the Holy takes a different kind of
vision.
O God, you are the source of an abundant life. When the waters seem to be running dry, you
are there, ready to fill us with life giving water. When the floods come, overflowing the banks
of our expectation, you are there, filling us with blessings. When the river runs at a steady pace, you are
there, patient and kind, quietly waiting for us to recognize that this, too, is
your gift. Teach us how to give in all
seasons, to pay attention to the daily gifts that appear along our walk with
you. Help us to count our blessings and
express our gratitude. Amen.