By Carla Long, counselor to the Presiding Bishop
The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
This is the fourth week of the Generosity Cycle. The focus is on the Discover phase which asks us to stop, look around, and DISCOVER God’s many blessings.
There is something to be said about generosity of spirit, when your body and your mind are in the same place, and that place is in the service of others.
I felt this deeply at Spectacular this year. Spectacular is a church camp at Graceland University, where teenagers from North America (and sometimes other nations of the world!) get together for fun, to cement new friendships, and to learn more about God and how God intersects with their lives on a daily basis.
I was there with my family, which includes my four-year-old son, my six-year-old daughter, and my husband. On the Wednesday night of Spec, the camp hosted a karaoke night. My six-year-old daughter, Liaden, desperately wanted to sing. I was a bit apprehensive because a lot of the campers wanted to sing, too, and since Liaden wasn’t technically a camper, I didn’t want her to take the place of someone else. And there was always the “mom fear” that she might get up there and end up feeling upset about her decision because it wasn’t what she wanted it to be.
But I went to the leader of the karaoke and asked if there was a place for her. He said that he would be able to squeeze her in, and Liaden was so excited!
Finally, it was her turn to head on stage. I went up with her and helped her set up. The music started and she started singing. By the time she got to the chorus, there were 100 teenagers up at the stage, singing and dancing and cheering her on. The moment was deeply sacred and beautiful to me. The moments that followed will forever be imprinted in my mind, with Lia singing and the teenagers making sure that she felt every bit of their love for her.
At the end of the song, they started chanting her name and her little face could not be more excited. She talked about it for days after, about how she felt so special and loved. I will always be grateful to those teen campers for the selflessness and deep care for her.
As members and friends of Community of Christ, this generosity of spirit is something that comes naturally to us in church settings, my prayer is that it comes naturally to us throughout our lives.
You can find worship resources for the Generosity Cycle at https://www.heraldhouse.org/collections/church-life-worship-resources, and other resources on the website at https://cofchrist.org/generosity-cycle/.
Prayer Phrase
“For everything created by God is good” (1 Timothy 4:4).
Spiritual Practice
Joy of Gratitude
Stand, if possible, with arms outstretched. Imagine God filling your arms with all that you have: family, friends, and possessions. Hold out your arms until they feel tired. Now, bring your arms across your body. Place your hand over your heart and thank God for the abundance that fills your life. Sit for a time aware of that abundance. Then ask God to help you open your heart in gratitude and share freely with others.
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.