Today is “Giving Tuesday”. This started as a counter balance to the greed of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It seems that for North Americans, after spending so much on ourselves in shopping over the weekend, we need a curative to shed the self-indulgence by thinking of others.
It is purely narrative, but some people are telling me that these days they have more money than usual because they can’t spend it on entertainment or travel or eating out. But I also know, by the phone calls and inquiries at the church door there are many people finding it hard to make ends meet with jobs lost and hours reduced. The pandemic has meant a win for some but a huge loss for many.
Here at the church we have been astounded and delighted by how faithful our donors have been over these last months. We are blessed that our offerings have kept pace with other years. We are still in the red as we have not been able to have rental income for our space used by the public and we have had very limited opportunity for annual fundraisers. We will be okay, but moving into 2021 will be done with a deficit. I am hearing from other churches that many are struggling and the end of the pandemic might well bring the end of many congregations ability to remain open. Likewise, our denominations Mission and Service Fund has been dealt a blow as many congregants make tough choices as to who and what to support.
Giving and sharing is part of the fiber of faith, for Christianity and all faith groups. Looking beyond ourselves is an element of God’s call to faithfulness. And it is something we do all year long, not just on ‘Giving Tuesday”. Nonetheless, sometimes we do need to be reminded to give, to give that bit extra, to give as much as we can, to give from a place of generosity, to give from a heart of compassion, to give because it feels good to do so.
What will ‘Giving Tuesday” look like for you? Is it time to top up your gifts to charities for the year 2020? Is it time to balance your cheque book and then balance your giving? And what is your motivation for giving? Duty? Generosity? Family tradition? There are many factors that contribute to our determination of what and who we support. The important thing is that we do give as we are able. Bottom line … and when it comes to accounting there is always a bottom line … it is a good thing to do.
