Getting: Recently I’ve had conversations about getting… new cars, a new house, Easter eggs, another job, a pay rise, a new guitar. We’re consumers; we get stuff…
On Sunday morning Minister-Lou told of the rich young ruler who came to see Jesus. He had money, possessions, privilege, influence, success, high moral standards…
…There’s still pressure to get and accumulate stuff today. Getting sufficient and being comfortable is what we’d wish for our children and grandchildren…
We were reminded of Jesus’ enigmatic words: ‘It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’
Giving: My experience suggests that getting doesn’t make us happy. The more we get, the more we want. However, those who lift their eyes beyond their own needs to the needs of others… who are generous in sharing their money, possessions, time and emotions … are more content.
St Paul quoted Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
The prayer of St Francis includes:
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive…
…Giving not getting.
Receiving: Yesterday I read about writer and broadcaster Sheridan Voysey’s fiftieth birthday party:
By providing everything ourselves, my wife and I… would miss an opportunity to deepen our relationships. So instead, we asked guests to bring a salad or dessert to the party… The party was wonderful… and everyone who shared their goods with us went on to become closer friends.
It’s about receiving well!
‘…being self-sufficient can be… our greatest source of isolation… By humbling ourselves and asking for help, we give others an opportunity to be generous to us – and tighten the ties that bind us.
Sunday’s rich young man’s self-sufficiency held him back. Me too. Sometimes I need to be more humble; receiving when others graciously give blesses them and me.
malcolmsmusings.org 
That virtue of receiving well is easy to overlook. Thank you for sharing how Sheridan Voysey celebrated his fiftieth and your thoughts about it. 🙂
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I certainly find it easier to give than to receive. When I give I remain in control….
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I love the idea of “an opportunity to deepen our relationships. So instead, we asked guests to bring a salad or dessert to the party… ”
We did the same some time ago and asked people to just bring “a drink and a plate”
A dear old chap, who has since “shuffled of this mortal coil” brought two plates, one each for his wife and him. Unfortunate he only brought the plates. He didn’t understand the that we were hoping people would contribute. He was deeply embarrassed and obviously we said it didn’t matter, which it didn’t.
People are usually extremely generous and there is always food left over and inevitably thrown away.
Which reminds me of Christmas when I always seem to say to my wife and daughters “Oh yes we know we’ve had a good Christmas when we’re throwing lots away.” Very sad really though. My only consolation is that at least all that food goes into one of my compost bins. And, as they’re at the bottom of quite a large garden, the rats down there have their own Christmas feast.
Take care everyone and may your God go with you.
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Thanks, Alan. Great story.
There is something about giving and receiving that brings people together, whether it’s food, time, concerns, hopes.
I have compost bins too. I often see field mice in mine. You’re right – that’s a different sort of giving and receiving.
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Amen to all the above and the birthday party request was perfect example of it
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Yes, Graham. We have organised meals like that – and thought that it was just a way to make life easier – not a way of blessing those who gave.
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“…being self-sufficient can be… our greatest source of isolation…” Yes! Well said, Malcolm!
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I think it’s a difficult one, Wynne. We want our children to be strong individuals and able to cope, and yet we want them to be sociable and inter-dependent.
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