A Mindset of Abundance

A seminary intern was riding one of the older, noisier subway lines in New York City — crowded, hot, and not exactly a place where anyone wanted to be approached. When a young man stood up and called out, "Ladies and gentlemen, may I have a moment of your time?" the entire car did what New Yorkers do: eyes down, no eye contact, brace for the ask.

But then he said something unexpected.

"Would you mind if I passed out copies of my resume? I have a lot to offer, and I'm hoping you might be able to put me in touch with someone who needs what I can give."

Almost everyone in the car reached out and took one.

Pastor Michael Lindvall, who tells that story, makes an observation worth sitting with. When you look at thriving, growing communities of faith across the country, he says, what distinguishes them is not theology — liberal or conservative. Not worship style — traditional or contemporary. Not size or location or budget. What distinguishes them is this: they operate out of a mindset of abundance. We have something to offer. Whatever we have — however much or little — we have something worth sharing.

The communities that struggle, he notes, tend to operate out of scarcity. We don't have enough. We can't do much until we grow, until someone gives us what we need.

The same is true of individuals.

The Samaritan woman in John's gospel had every reason to operate out of scarcity. She was an outsider — ethnically, religiously, socially. She had a complicated history. She came to the well alone, in the middle of the day, likely to avoid the other women. She had nothing obvious to offer.

And yet — when she encountered Jesus, something shifted. She was so moved that she couldn't contain it. She ran back to her village and said simply: "Come and see." And people came. And they believed.

She gave what she had. And it was enough.

What might it look like today to operate from abundance rather than scarcity — to ask not what do I lack but what do I have to offer?

Prayer: Gracious God, forgive us for the times we have focused so intently on what we lack that we have missed the gifts already in our hands. Remind us today that you work with what is offered, however small. Give us the courage and the generosity to share what we have — our time, our story, our presence — trusting that in your hands it will be enough. We ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

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