For starters, I'm not asking you to GIVE anything today. Phew, right? It's GIVING TUESDAY after all, and I'm a missionary. So . . . . . . entonces . . . . . . . Last week, I was out of pocket (no wifi, no outlets, a solar power type of situation) and it was GLORIOUS. When I opened my email after 4 days unplugged, I had 527 emails! WHAT? Friends, I'm not THAT important! 526 of those emails were Black Friday and Cyber Monday emails shouting out about ALL of the DEALS, DISCOUNTS, and BARGAINS. Nothing says, "Celebrate the newborn King" like 50% off TODAY ONLY. And yes, discounts are great this time of year, but for reals . . . it was as if I was walking in front of the shops on the beach where every vendor is trying to entice me to come into their shop, "It's free to look, my friend!" and "Cheapy cheapy for you." and "It's happy hour, amiga!" A stream of friendly but assertive, "No Gracias." is the only way to get through the vendor gauntlet, but as far as my inbox is concerned, I did a LOT of unsubscribing yesterday. It. IS. JUST. TOO. MUCH. FOR. ME. Also, have you noticed how Black Friday is oozing into "Black Friday Week" like jelly from a pb & j sandwhich. It's everywhere all of a sudden, uncontainable to one frenzied day, glopping out all over the week. And then there's GIVING TUESDAY, which makes me feel really uncomfortable. Not because I think we shouldn't GIVE to worthy causes - on the contrary! Maybe it's the order: Early Black Friday, Black Friday, Cyber Monday . . . . Giving Tuesday. It seems like a manufactured afterthought - after we've indulged in all sorts of ways (those of you who know me, know that for me, this time of year, it's PIE. I heart PIE.), after all sorts of consumption - we're fat, happy, perhaps in debt, a few pounds heavier and our pockets a bit lighter. And we NOW turn our hearts to giving? Well, I guess better late than not at all, right? Something about it just feels very forced and off to me. "So, what's your point, Rach? You just admitted to indulging yourself!? (Well, yes, my friends. You don't become overweight from self control, healthy choices and balanced living - but that's a confessional post for another day which won't be limited to food.) I digress. Giving Tuesday, focus Rachel. Here's the point: should we not be GIVING EVERYDAY? Maybe it can't always be through a large donation to a worthy cause, maybe it can't always be on a certain day of the year, maybe it can't be out of abundance but out of a place of sacrificial scarcity, maybe it isn't monetary at all - a call, a message, a favor, a helping hand, a prayer offered, maybe it's an invitation or reaching out to someone who really REALLY bugs you but you know you should love them anyway!? (Don't connect dots if you get a message from me today! It has nothing to do with that last one, ok? Settle down.) So, while I'm not going to ask you to give anything today, the Lord IS going to ask you AND me to GIVE something EVERY DAY. Donations are nice, necessary and needed but let's not relegate our generosity to a day like Giving Tuesday, let's #GIVEEVERYDAY.
1 Comment
Tiffany Jones
12/3/2019 01:33:13 pm
For the last week FB has been asking me to pick a charity for my birthday, there are just too many! Being that my bday fell on giving Tuesday, I just asked family to give-doesn't really matter to me to who they give- just give. We don't appreciate just how good we have it.
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