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Brian Wilcox 'Evening Primrose'
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... the fruit of the Spirit is ... generosity, ...
*Galatians 5.22
See first that you yourself deserve to be a giver,
and an instrument of giving.
For in truth it is life that gives unto life -
while you, who deem yourself a giver,
are but a witness.
*Kahlil Gibran. The Prophet.
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Generosity in giving is often associated with money. Yet, it covers so much more, including - time, laughter, sorrow, attention, energy, encouragement, faith, optimism, wisdom, teachings, space, ideas, inspiration, hope, stories, experience, skills, presence, ... And with present-day technology, we have immediate access to share positively in ways prior generations did not.
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Likewise, generosity is the same generosity, whether one gives to other humans or nonhuman species. In the community I live in, a couple has a wonderful dog, a Great Dane. His name is Eddie. One day, while getting groceries, I decided to purchase Eddie some special dog food as a treat. That was months ago, and I find joy in doing this each time I go to get groceries - and Eddie enjoys it. His human mom places it on his bland diet - which he is assigned for health reasons -, and with just a little added, he will eat his meal. So, the food has turned out as more than a treat. Generosity is generosity, and it is no different in essence whether to a human friend or family member or to Eddie. Sacred transactions of giving occur, also, among other species than human. Humans do not have a claim on the right to or capacity for generosity.
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We are many glasses
from which flows one Wine
into the thirst of all of Earth
A glass does not say,
"Drink me"
No, we are that through which
the Wine pours itself out
to sate the thirst of the world
We are like a face that smiles,
yet the Spirit of smiles
shapes the face and inspires the effulgence
of the Inner Light in widened lips
and brightened eyes
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The Universe is sacred Exchange. Spirit is, we see, naturally generous, not withholding from fear of loss in giving. Life is uninterrupted reciprocation from matter to Spirit. This reciprocation is integral to impermanence, for impermanence means change and interdependence. The spiritual being, a self-in-flux, part of the generosity, participates in this exchange - the fullness of Grace finding an outlet from the heart into the world. Life in the giver, then, replenishes the giver, for the flow of Energies from the self is one with the sustenance of the Energies flowing into the self. Spiritual death occurs when this flow is cut off; spiritual life is expanded in the self devoting itself to be a means of this Grace. Spiritual life, therefore, is inherently Generous. All Nature is a sacrament, a means of Grace - which means, also, Gift.
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In the Christian Scripture, Jesus speaks of the natural law of giving and receiving. He refers his listeners to the marketplace. The seller shakes the grain in the container, so as to let it settle, allowing room for more grain. He is generous, even to the grain running over and outside the container.
Gospel of Luke 6.38 (TLB) -
For if you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give - large or small - will be used to measure what is given back to you.
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A young man I had never seen arrived to attend the meditation workshop I was offering. I gave the workshop at the church I was serving as pastor. Afterward, he and I became acquaintances. I came to know he favored Buddhism. Shortly, he asked me to officiate his wedding. I went to Sebring, Florida, and officiated the out-doors ceremony, delighted to offer a ceremony honoring his Buddhist leanings - I, too, was strongly attracted to Buddhism. On returning to my home, I received a link via email. I opened it and saw he had, even though I had been paid for the ceremony, designed a website for me in appreciation for officiating the marriage rite. That was 2004, and I recall with joy that this site, on which I have penned thousands of writings over the last sixteen years, was part of such a sacred exchange of mutual-kindness.
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For one living in Spirit, giving something is not merely giving something. The something given is the self giving itself. The object given is a living expression of the essence of the giver. The gift is sacralized for arising from the heart. For those living as personalities, this is not so. Yet, when one lives from the heart, under the influences of divine Grace, giving is a grace mirroring the Spirit of all acts of altruism.
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I spoke at a series of religious meetings: we called them revivals. I was a Baptist preacher in my twenties and with little income, going to graduate school. A little was a lot to me financially. I recall near that time not being able to spend forty-five cents to purchase a soda drink - that forty-five cents was too expensive.
After speaking a week nightly before a church in Mississippi, the last night, the people blessed me with money and with what money cannot purchase - love. They had me stand in front of the sanctuary. Each one came by and shared loving affection: well-wishing and hugging and expressing appreciation. It was wonderful!
That night the people gave me a check to cash. Afterward, in my car, I opened the envelope to see over three-hundred dollars. That was the most money I had ever held in my hands. Yet, it did not equal the sum one small boy gave that night.
Earlier, as the people came forward to express gratitude to me, this lad, about ten years of age, came up and stood before me. Smiling, he reached out his hand. He placed something in my hand. I looked at the gift, it was a quarter, twenty-five cents. Some would say, a meager sum. Yet, this was not a small gift. That quarter was a gift beyond measure. Do you see?
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Spiritually, what applies in giving and receiving money, applies in giving and receiving anything - material or otherwise. When you smile at someone, you give it freely. You do not think, "I must smile" or "I owe her a smile in return" or "I will smile to him to be a good person." Who wants to receive a must-smile, ought-to-smile, or to-be-good smile? No, the smile expresses your freedom, the spontaneous overflow of the heart. Your smile invites a freely-given smile in return, even though your smile-gift you gave with no claim to a like reply. This freely given back-and-forth means the occurrence of a sacred transaction. A mundane sharing of gesture is lifted to Sacrament.
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As you draw near Grace, you become more graceful - so generous - in all you do, even how you communicate to others silently. The universal Self is continuously giving, without giving thought to giving, for the giving is the natural outflow of Grace.
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Even in solitude, one living the Way is giving. The self of one in communion with Life becomes the means of spontaneous offering, when joined with the universal Self. Giving happens, without any sense that it ought to happen, and without any idea of merit gained with or blessing in return from Spirit.
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*(C) Brian K. Wilcox, 2020
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