Unfolding through the years...

I had the occasion recently to look back over some of the posts from the last 5+ years that talked mainly about Stewardship. Several things went through my mind as I read through them but what struck me most was how they had changed over that time. And not only how they had changed, but what had sparked that change! Those changes weren’t sparked by a Stewardship campaign, or by someone sending me information on their charity, or by a desire for a bigger tax rebate at the end of the year. They were sparked first and foremost by my changing perception of who or what God is for me. This was followed by a maturing in my understanding of what the changing perception meant for how I live my life in the here and now.

Looking back over what Stewardship has meant to me, it has grown from pennies in the mitre box during Lent for the poor children in Africa in Sunday School to paying ‘our share’ of the daily upkeep of the church as a young family. This is were it begins to get ‘sticky’ if you will. Over the next number of decades I became more and more in-tune with a God who cares for everyone regardless of race or religion. The teachings of Jesus emphasize our responsibility for the vulnerable, the unlovely, the dregs of society. We as followers of Jesus today are called to live by these guidelines every bit as much as the disciples were back in his time. And I found, [as Martin Luther is supposed to have said] ‘that I can do no other’.

The biggest factor in changing my understanding of the importance of Stewardship has been educational programmes on a variety of topics and an on-going dialogue, not only with clergy, but also with other people both in and out of the church. Because as I saw in my own life, it is only by changing who and what you are, by transformation, that your understanding of just what Stewardship is will really change.

When I look at where our givings go today, just over 1/2 of it goes to food banks, weekly meal programs and shelters for the vulnerable. While I agree with those who say food banks and clothing depots are bandages on the problem, not solutions, I also feel strongly that while we search for solutions, people need food and lodging. The rest of our money, just under 50%, goes directly to a church in support of the work being done there: their education programming and their outreach attempts as they attempt to become a visible, accessible, presence in their community.

Do you give until it changes not only the way others live, but also the way you live?

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