Yes, More Indeed!

In Charles Dicken’s classic tale Oliver Twist, the protagonist asks, “May I have some more, sir?” The responds is less than cordial, informing Oliver that he will need to earn his keep and he should be grateful for what he gets.  Unfortunately, many of us have this or similar experiences in life, when everything seems to be in short supply, especially money, time and energy.  It can greatly affect the way we look at life and live it – starting from a place of scarcity and needing to stockpile things in order to feel any sense of security.

It may be helpful to think of the spiritual fruit of generosity as a balm for this approach to life.  We need to be healed from the fear and anger that comes with the disease of scarcity in order to acknowledge and feel the reality of God’s abundance.  There is always more from God, more than we can ask or imagine – and I know we have great imaginations.  It might not be what we think we need, like more money or security, but it will be what we need.

In our Gospel lesson this week, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well.  It is the longest recorded conversation that Jesus has with any one person, which is only the first mark of generosity.  During their conversation, Jesus offers the woman the free gift of eternal life through the living water.  For a woman who has been relegated to drawing water at the well during the hottest part of the day, it is obvious she is an outcast, shunned by her community, yet Jesus finds her worthy to receive this gift.  The fact that Jesus talks one-on-one with a woman in the context of very strict social interactions between the sexes is another sign of generosity, as is his view about where and how to worship God, that it may be done in other places then Jerusalem.  These two people seem to be removed from time and space so that it is one soul talking to another, a spiritual communion that offers health and healing rather than judgment and recrimination.  The best evidence that healing occurred through the balm of generosity is seen in that fact that the woman brings the news of Jesus’ presence back to the very community that finds her so lacking.  They could have ignored her, yet they listen and decide to see for themselves.  The community is healed as well when they encounter Jesus first-hand, healed for their own limited belief and acceptance.

Part of our endeavor of learning more about the fruit of the Spirit is to expand our understanding of what they mean and how we experience them in our lives.  While many times we think of a monetary connotation about generosity, there is much more to it.  The root of it starts with looking at God’s good creation as a source of abundance - of life, of blessings, of freedom, of love.

From there we can begin to order our lives around what is important to us and how we respond to God with generosity.  I have heard many people say that whenever they give more, whether it is time, talent or treasure, they always seem to have more than they thought they did.  I pray you feel the healing balm of generosity this Lent and are able to experience this fruit in a new and unexpected way.