“Practicing generosity requires confronting some of the deep existential questions about our lives.”
- – Christian Smith, Hilary Davidson
Dear Caldwell,
It’s still early spring here in Pittsburgh – cool, clean air and blossoms on Dogwoods and other trees (that I can’t identity). What a blessing it’s been to me.
As we travel from Sunday to Sunday this week, let me propose that we think about the move from abundance to generosity. Last Sunday, we revisited the story in John 20 about Christ directing the disciples to cast their net in a particular spot. Bingo – a net full of fish, more than enough. We reflected on Christ’s words, “I came that you might have life and have it abundantly.” And we reminded ourselves that, in this Eastertide, we still stand in the light that shines from the open tomb. Out of God’s grace in Christ, we have new life, we have enough, when so many do not have enough.
Our mindset can make all the difference: is our mindset, our view of life, one that is based on a sense of abundance? Or scarcity? If abundance, then we can grow into being generous people, generous with our whole lives. If we see the world through a lens of scarcity, then we will never have enough to share, or at least that is the great risk.
On Sunday, we will take a look at a story in 1 Kings 17:8-16, a marvelous, mysterious story about Elijah and an old widow and her son. It invites us to take a new look at the source of our abundance and how we can live with a spirit of generosity as people who are “blessed to be a blessing to others.”
Meantime, the world continues to confront us with messages of scarcity, of division, of fear and of conflict. Look for Caldwell This Week tomorrow with a number of chances we have this weekend and beyond to be the resurrected body of Christ in our broken and hurting world. We can bring donated household items to Belk Hall Friday, April 22, 3:00 – 6:00 pm and Saturday, April 23, 8:00 am – 3:00 pm to offer a gracious welcome to newly arrived refugees starting life over. We can speak truth to power at a rally against HB2 Sunday afternoon. And, out of our abundance of space, partnerships and talent, we can host the city when The Third Place coffee house opens Monday morning (a “soft” opening).
Thanks to the digital newsletter, Charlotte Agenda, for it’s coverage of The Third Place this morning, which you can read here.
Watch for CTW for more.
In Christ,
John