Lord of Light
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Stories to Tell, Gifts to Share
Contrary to popular opinion, pastors are no more interested in talking about money than the general population.
This came home to me several years back when, in preparation for a continuing education event, I was asked to prepare a "money autobiography." Talk about a daunting task! To answer questions like, "Describe how your family discussed money." and "Explain how you came to tithe" was about as appealing as undergoing oral surgery! And yet, in hindsight, I found the exercise to be quite revealing.
I recognized, for example, that my family rarely spoke of money. Oh, sure, my parents gave each of us an allowance - and responsibility that increased along with the size of that allowance through the years. Even so, except for establishing an amount to be spent on each child at Christmas, my parents never talked about the family budget. We discussed religion and sexuality far more openly than we did money! And so, I learned about fiscal responsibility in a rather haphazard way.
Junior year in high school, when I had started my first job - and before I had to begin saving for college in earnest - I discovered designer clothing. I can still recall my mother's astonishment that (in 1979) a shirt could cost $70!
I was in college when credit card companies were just discovering the lucrative student market. As a result of my naivete - and desire to pick up the check in a restaurant far too often for my own good - I graduated with credit card debt on top of those nasty student loans.
Fortunately, it was also as a young adult that I began to acquire a nuanced understanding of stewardship as more than an obligation and more than what I put into the offering plate. Simultaneously, I found a sense of greater ownership and partnership in giving to those institutions and causes that I valued.
The first time I first sat down to calculate the percentage of income that was going to the basics, it was no surprise that each month the biggest checks were being written to my landlord and to my aunt Sallie (Mae), who was receiving a full 10% (tithe) of my income! Soon, I recognized that my budget fell into two categories: required expenses (rent, utilities, student loans, car insurance, etc.) and expenditures I was able to choose (entertainment, gifts and charitable giving). I was embarrassed to realize that my charitable giving stood at a mere 1.5% of my income, and so I began a journey of being increasingly intentional about investing in the work of the Church and organizations whose missions meant a great deal to me.
With the exception of the Church and those schools that are nearest and dearest to my heart, my charitable giving has shifted through the years. What's more, I've discovered that there's more than a kernel of truth in what a friend has often said, "Money is for three things: the necessities of life, celebrating friendships and giving to those who are in need." As time goes on, I find I need less than I thought I did when I was younger. And while I still invest in celebrating cherished friendships, my friends likewise want for little - and we are all more committed to sharing our gifts with those who have greater needs than we do.
At this point in my life, I am more excited about getting rid of stuff - and more inclined to accumulate experiences - than to add more things to my already obscene warehouse of good. To be sure, books will likely always be an enticing addiction (one which NPR encourages, thankyouverymuch) but I'm learning to fill up Espresso Royale cards with punches from $1 refills in order to redeem them for non-fat, no-foam, sugar-free caramel lattes.
All this is to say that - hopefully - our relationship with money and "stuff" is constantly evolving. It is my hope that over time, the manner in which we allocate the wealth entrusted to us will be informed by values that, in turn, are formed to an ever-greater degree by faith and by the recognition that alone we can do little but together we can make a significant, positive difference in caring for the whole of God's creation.
I have no hesitation in tithing as I find it a helpful spiritual discipline. If you share that sentiment, great! If you don't, fear not; your salvation is not in jeopardy. Regardless, I encourage you to be thoughtful about your giving to the Church and to other worthwhile charitable causes.
I hope that when you look around the sanctuary on Sunday mornings - when you hear the faith stories of your sisters and brothers in Christ and know that your gifts participate in the healing of the world, help to train citizens of moral character and to nurture church leaders who will guide with integrity - you will do so with joy and thanksgiving to the One who blesses us with stories to tell and gifts to share.
On Sunday, December 16th, we will submit our pledges in support of Lord of Light and Lutheran Campus Ministry for the coming year. The gifts we offer will directly affect the nature and scope of ministry we are able to undertake in 2008. When we join together, this relatively small community of faith has a mighty impact on the world.
May God bless you as you learn, serve and grow into the full stature of Christ Jesus.
Yours in Faith,
Pastor Sue Sprowls