Generosity Part II

Yesterday I spoke about the connection many have found between being generous and deeper happiness. Indeed there are so many ways we can learn to be generous… with our time, our energy, our creativity, our hospitality, and our money.

But in light of all that is happening in the world around us, today, I want to focus a little more on another type of generosity – and that is being generous with our listening and understanding.

In our country right now, there is a real dearth of willingness to even try and understand where others are coming from. I think about the events of this past month. And I have to ask, what if, what if those of us who are trying to follow Jesus were to simply start by working on being generous with our listening – with our understanding… especially with those who look different from us or who may see the world differently? What if we were to work on being a student first and a critic second?

I know that even on a small scale, in my family, when politics come up, tempers so easily flare, things are said that hurt. In wanting to be right (or, in knowing we’re right) we damage our relationships. And not only that, we add anger to the world; we add fuel to the flames. And we do nothing to help our own sense of equanimity and peace.

Now, that’s not to say we shouldn’t have deep convictions. We should. It just seems we have lost the ability to have a real conversation, real dialog around certain topics. Things disintegrate so easily.

Of course, there will be times when we disagree and even argue our point with others. But, if we try and dominate every conversation, or beat people up with our point, or we shut them out, then we only isolate ourselves. Even worse, if we begin to demonize or hate people who see the world from a different perspective, that hate, that disgust begins to corrode the soul. It hurts our families. It hurts our communities. It hurts our country, and it hurts our world.

On the other side of this, may you and I, who are so blessed, who have received mercy and grace upon grace, may we find ways to cultivate a spirit of generosity with our listening ears and our understanding hearts.

Let us pray: Loving God, help us to find ways in this divided world, to be ambassadors of your love, mercy, and peace. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.