Just Give it Away
I was on my way down to Charleston, South Carolina on Friday. As usual, I tuned in to my favorite country music radio station and heard a song called “Just Give it Away.”
The story goes like this. The husband, who is singing, tells about his wife leaving – one of the many times she had left. He sings about he was sure she was just kidding UNTIL she said this to him – “that picture on the wall of us – on our wedding day – just give it away, just give it away.” The song goes on in that frame of mind until he says he realizes he doesn’t want to give it away…that he still loves her. Now I hope your marriage – if you’re married – never hits that low point. I’ll talk about that in another reflection soon.
As I was thinking of that term – just give it away – I thought of my minister friend, Bill. Bill is a great guy and has a real passion for helping others sort through things when they need a little help. He preaches some unusual sermons from time to time. He also has a unique ability to befriend people at bars and other “out of the mainstream” places to do his work.
Part of Bill’s ministry is encouraging others to “give it away” in a spiritual sense. He manages a large missions program at the church where members go on mission trips locally and internationally to both help and minister to others who are in need. In short, Bill also teaches others to “give it away”.
I once went on one of those ministry trips to Costa Rica. That was my second experience doing that. I learned that it is a selfless deed to participate in this kind of ministry. Some of our team members literally did give everything to the people we were with but the shoes and clothes they had on their backs.
Bill also encourages others to “give it away” in the form of money, time, and talents at the local church level. Lots of people do that at Bill’s church. Others have a much more difficult time sharing their good fortune with others. I suspect that, the more one practices “giving it away” the more it becomes part of their life.
I figure it’s all about priorities and where you are in life. Bill is good at helping others think about that. He’s not pushy, just keeps the though in front of people.
We need more people in this world like Bill.
My wish for you today: That you “give it away” to others in some way. Whether it’s helping at a food kitchen, listening to someone in despair, helping out in a faith based community of your choice, going on a mission trip, helping out with Habitat for Humanity…just give your time away unselfishly.
When one “gives it away” it helps you prioritize what’s important in life.
~Joellen