I am cleaning out my closets in anticipation of another family enjoying our home this winter.  I must admit that I have been tempted to go Ebay, Consignment Store, Garage Sale crazy.  These are precious things that we’ve taken good care of, and although we don’t need them anymore, making some extra money right now wouldn’t be a bad idea.  But the thought keeps creeping in to give it away–to the friend who still can wear the Ann Taylor suit that I can’t fit into right now–to Rachel soon to have her first son–to my fellow homeschooler who might need some new curriculum that we aren’t using.  Please don’t hear me as saying that it’s wrong to do Ebay, Consignment Stores, or Garage Sales. Quite frankly, if I had a little more discretionary time to sort right now, I might list a few things myself.  But I just read an article from one of my favorite authors, and I’ve decided that since I don’t have a lot of discretionary time or cash right now, I am going to live like a millionaire with discretionary giving.  Want to join me?  Let me know if you need something.  It just might be in a little box in my garage waiting for you.

Recessionary spending

October 21, 2009
 

Things are tight. They are at my house, and I suspect they might be at some of yours, too. And when we’re not sure of our resources, we tend to draw back - to pull in. We hoard instead of spending. We ask ourselves, “Do I really need that now?’ or “Do I really need that, ever?” These are good questions and worth asking whether we are in a recession or not. But a voice in my head keeps calling out for spending, and not the kind you might imagine.

 

I’m hearing a line I know one of my parents must have said more than once in my growing up years, because it stuck: It doesn’t cost you anything to be kind. That’s the kind of recessionary spending I could get behind recession or no - and lately, it’s a kind of spending that has been modeled to me.

 

A week or so ago I sat in a Starbucks with a colleague who wanted to show me something on her laptop, but couldn’t get her wi-fi to cooperate. A fellow sitting nearby saw us struggling to connect and called over a suggestion. As we continued to try, he got up, walked over to our table, and tried it himself. Still no deal. Then he said “just a minute” and logged off his own computer so we could log on - as him! Come on now. No one does that. Turns out he was was a regional Starbucks operations manager, sitting in the store doing some paperwork. Turns out he was kind, and spent some of that kindness on us.

On a recent flight from Portland, Oregon, to Houston (3 legs, nearly 7 hours in the air and a full day of sitting, taking off and landing), I had accidently gone on a mini-fast. It never occurred to me that after a cup of oatmeal at 6 a.m. I wouldn’t be eating anything but peanuts until nearly 6 p.m. if I didn’t ”pack a lunch.” I couldn’t leave the plane, so I couldn’t eat. (Now you know what airline I was on!) On the next-to-last leg, my seatmate (who learned I’d been flying all day) reached into his briefcase as we were preparing to land at his destination, and pulled out two packages of cookies. “Here,” he said as he winked and handed them to me. “Dinner’s on me.” A little more kindness.

Yesterday I received a gift in my mailbox that took my breath away with its generosity. The postmark said it was sent from Alabama, but I’m pretty sure it originated in heaven. It was definitely recessionary spending, and I was on the slack-jawed receiving end of someone else’s kindness.

I’m seeing a pattern. Are you?

It doesn’t cost you anything to be kind. That’s what my parents taught me. And these three kind spenders have taught me a lesson, too. My new plan is to spend my way out of this recession in as many ways as I can, one crazy act of love at a time. Join me?

You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand - shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:15-16, The Message.)

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