What has the latest round of lockdowns provoked in you? Most of us are feeling loss to some degree, but, if you’re anything like me, you’re also waking up feeling more aware of your own personal frustrations, starting the day with a touch of resentment at the same old scenery, and finishing your day feeling the horizons of your life drawing closer in: just my own walls, my people, my three meals, my bed.
I’m amazed by the story of Lee McClelland, a pastor and a fellow Northern Irishman. He shares a story that is beyond me to imagine – stuck in hospital with coronavirus, a day away from having to be put on a ventilator.
One of the things I love about generosity is that it’s always available to us. The worst kind of day can happen, you can stub your toe, work can be rubbish, the dog can vomit on the rug – and you can still walk out the door and practice generosity. The door never closes on generosity, and the chance to make someone else’s life better is always there. It’s always an option.
If you're single, or uninterested in the commercial fuss, or find it a yearly struggle – what are you supposed to do with Valentine's Day beyond just ignoring it? Well, if you want to be someone who celebrates generosity as biblically and broadly as you can, I reckon you have a great opportunity on your hands to help lead the way in generosity beyond consumeristic cards and chocolates.
Some years, the kingdom of God feels far off.
For many of us, 2016 has been a discouraging takedown of the idea that we live in a generous society—one that looks out for the needy, one that prefers the 'least of these'.
blogs by the Stewardship team and selected guest writers.