GIVING
John Holman, parishioner
I WAS GIVEN THE CHOICE OF SOME TOPICS UPON WHICH TO OFFER A FEW THOUGHTS. THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON GIVING APPEALED TO ME, BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE DIFFERENT THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. I THOUGHT I WOULD SPEAK ON HOW WORTHY IT IS TO GIVE, AND IT CERTAINLY IS. I FORESAW A SPEECH ON HOW NOBLE IT IS TO GIVE FREELY, GENEROUSLY, AND WITHOUT CONDITION. AS THEY SAY IN THE NFL, “UPON FURTHER REVIEW”, MY THOUGHTS VEERED OFF IN A NEW DIRECTION.
WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE TO REFLECT, I WAS STUNNED TO FIND HOW MUCH I RECEIVE. I HAVE BEEN THE BENIFICIARY OF AN EXTRAORDINARILY FORTUNATE LIFE, FILLED WITH PEOPLE ATTEMPTING TO SMOOTH THE WAY FOR ME. ALL THOSE WONDERFUL FOLKS WHO INFLUENCE YOUR CHILDHOOD INCLUDING PARENTS, TEACHERS AND RELATIVES GAVE ME EVERYTHING THAT THEY COULD. I CAN’T RECALL A SINGLE ONE WHO EVER TRIED TO DO ME ILL, AND ONLY MY OWN STUBBORNESS KEPT ME FROM APPRECIATING ALL THAT WAS BEING OFFERED.
MORE REFLECTION LED ME TO MY ADULT LIFE WHEN MARRIAGE AND FAMILY OPENED UP A WHOLE NEW ARRAY OF PEOPLE GIVING ME THEIR LOVE, WISDOM AND AFFECTION. MY WONDERFUL DAUGHTERS AND MY LOVING AND PATIENT WIFE HAVE GIVEN MY LIFE MEANING AND DIMENSION I NEVER KNEW EXISTED.
LATER IN LIFE, I REDISCOVERED RELIGIOUS FAITH THROUGH OUR CHURCH AND CONGREGATION. ONCE AGAIN I HAVE BEEN THE FORTUNATE RECIPIENT OF A WEALTH OF GIFTS WHICH HAVE ADDED IMMEASURABLY TO MY LIFE. WHEN I GOT SICK A FEW YEARS AGO, I WAS ONCE AGAIN A RECEIVER. PEOPLE WHO I DID NOT KNOW WERE INTENT ON SAVING MY LIFE. THINK ABOUT THAT, PEOPLE WHO DIDN’T KNOW ME FROM A HOLE IN THE WALL HOVERED OVER ME SEEKING TO EXTEND MY LIFE.
ALL IN ALL, IT FEELS LIKE THE LEDGER IS TILTED PRETTY DRAMATICALLY TOWARD RECEIVING FAR MORE THAN I HAVE GIVEN. I AM FILLED WITH A PROFOUND SENSE OF GRATITUDE FOR THE BLESSINGS MY LIFE HAS BEEN GIVEN. WHATEVER MEAGER GIVING I DO SEEMS LIKE SUCH A PITTANCE COMPARED TO ALL I HAVE RECEIVED.
ALTHOUGH I DON’T KNOW IT AS A FACT, I SURMISE WE ALL FEEL THAT THE BLANCE SHEET IS MUCH IN OUR FAVOR. WHILE WE MAKE OUR WAY THROUGH LIFE’S VICISSITUDES, TRY TO REMEMBER HOW MUCH WE ARE ALREADY AHEAD OF THE GAME, AND BE GRATEFUL.
John Holman
