OUR COMMON FAITH - Giving for the Holidays?
by Pastor Ron Gatrelle

November is here. It's time for winter sports, the family Thanksgiving get together, Christmas shopping, feeling good....and guilty. Yep, guilty. Every time the holiday season rolls around guilt comes with it. In heaping holiday good times and goodies to ourselves many of us suddenly become aware, for the first time since last year's holiday, that we are surround by poor, hungry people who need help. Help that we could afford to give.

Usually the civil social action groups and the benevolence committee at church don't start making us aware of "our" bounty and "their" lack until about the 15th, but I thought I'd get a head start.

Actually, we who live in varying degrees of plenty should already be aware that we have an overflow to bless others with. We should not need to be reminded or prodded into giving, especially if we call ourselves Christians, for benevolence is a central thread woven throughout every area of our common faith and is always in season. If we find ourselves going on an annual guilt trip in November and December, it is probably our own fault.

If we would allow the inherent benevolence of our common faith to flow out to others the first ten months of the year we wouldn't have to feel guilty the last two. If we would pace ourselves through steady, monthly giving to the needy, we wouldn't have to make a year end, good will sprint. A year end trip to the nursing home or a seasonal turkey given to the family on the other side of town will certainly cheer up the recipients for one day and our guilt will be appeased. But it would be far better for the needy and us if we would engage in a less flamboyant but more meaningful outreach strategy.

The individual in the nursing home would rather receive a few "how ya doin'" cards and phone calls throughout the year instead of just an annual stop to see if they are still alive. It would mean a lot more to that needy family to receive some peanut butter, bread, and beans every few weeks than that annual turkey and trimmings.

When we give a little here and a little there all year, the needy will be blessed and feel that we really care and are not just soothing our conscience. When we allow the goodness of our common faith within us to come out on a regular basis, we will not feel guilty enjoying the holiday bounty God has given us to share with family and friends.

When we bless others through regular, practical, caring expressions of our common faith we become free to enjoy blessing--without guilt. This, too, is a part of our common faith.