By Erin Cackler, mission development minister
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
This is the third 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 was a challenging time in my life when I could only see my failings or where I fell short of my expectations. During this time, I started actively working on my spiritual health. I read a book with a spiritual practice of paying attention, requiring one to talk to nature. To look out at nature in front of you and ask, “Tree, what do you have to share with me?” and then stop and listen. While doing this spiritual practice one day, I looked out at the tall, multicolored zinnias in front of me and asked, “Flower, what do you have to share with me?"
I stopped and observed the different colored and shaped zinnia flowers, marveling at their beauty, watching the bees and butterflies they attracted and the symbiotic relationship that was in front of me. Then, my eyes drifted downward, to the base of the five-foot-tall zinnias. There I saw shriveled leaves, white spots, and damage. I had admired these zinnias for probably a month or more before this day, their beauty distracting me from what was withering at the base of the plant.
As I gave them my attention again, I realized this plant IS me. It is all of us. When I look around I see beauty and where others shine. I looked at these flowers and realized I had been focused on my shriveled leaves while God and others had focused on my flowers.
We can choose to focus on our failings or where we fall short in our lives. We can choose to see the things we don’t have. Or we can discover the beauty and abundance that God has placed in our lives. We exist with “shriveled leaves” at our base, but at the same time our flowers share beauty and are strong, feeding the bees and butterflies.
Look with “God eyes” and notice the joy, beauty, love, and abundance in your life. Acknowledge the abundance and allow it to flow out, feeding others around you.
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
“You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity” (2 Corinthians 9:11).
Spiritual Practice
Overflowing Generosity
Spend five minutes thinking deeply about how God has shared abundantly with you in very specific ways. Where do you see God’s abundant generosity in your life? Say a prayer of thanksgiving for these blessings. Now, reminded of these blessings, think about how you can bless others. In what ways can God’s abundant generosity overflow from you to others? What specific blessing will you share with another this day?
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.