Abundant Generosity

Then He took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over – seven baskets full (Mt. 15:36-37).

Last June, I had an opportunity to travel to Istanbul on business. It is one of the most fascinating cities I have ever seen. For one thing, it’s enormous; metropolitan Istanbul covers an area over 2400 square miles, spanning both the European and Asian continents. The architecture is very eclectic. It’s not at all unusual to see a 700-year-old mosque neatly tucked between modern glass office buildings. In one area of the city, there is a new mall that was built into the walls of what was once a fortress to keep out invaders.

I found the people there to be tremendously hospitable and welcoming. One office colleague who hosted us seemed tickled pink at how much I enjoyed the food and was interested in their culture, especially the hypnotic folk music I heard playing all around us. (To me, this is the best part of traveling!) We kept in touch after I returned home, and I learned a couple of months ago that this colleague was planning to visit the States. He asked me in advance if there was anything he could bring me from Istanbul. I mentioned that I had wanted to get to a music store when I was there last year to see if I could find some recordings of Turkish folk music, but had not had an opportunity. He said he would be glad to bring me a CD. He brought me not one, but four recordings of music from different parts of the country.

The generosity of this friend and colleague reminded me of how lavish God is with us. We ask Him for different things depending on what’s going on in our lives and what we think we want or need, but He always responds by giving us more than what we ask or even hope for. I remember going on a retreat many years ago, and one of the director’s favorite phrases was, “God will not be outdone in generosity.”

But there’s a catch. We have to have our eyes open and our hearts tuned to what God is doing. So often I find I let myself get so busy with work and family responsibilities that I fail to see the little miracles that are happening around me every day. God’s abundant, abiding love is exactly what brings these miracles about, and He invites us to share in that every day. I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you should love one another (Jn. 13:34).

I volunteer several times a year with an organization at my former university called Alumni for Others. The first project I ever did with them involved traveling to Tijuana over a weekend to build houses for poor families there. A foundation begun by two of our alumni raises the funding and organizes the manpower (students and alumni from the University). They work with an organization in Tijuana who set the rules that determine who will receive the next house. The beautiful thing is that families who have already received homes return to help build a house for the next family. The witness of the love these people showed toward one another was so impressive, and inspired all of us on the work crew to labor even harder to get as much done for them as we possibly could.

Generosity born out of self-giving, sacrificial love is contagious. From His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace (Jn 1:16). Pass it on – lavishly!