“For it is in giving that we receive.” St. Francis of Assisi

What is it that we don’t get about this concept?  I definitely include myself in the previous “we”.  Why is it that we don’t give more?  The greatest minds in history agree on the simple principle.

“For true love is inexhaustible; the more you give, the more you have. And if you go to draw at the true fountainhead, the more water you draw, the more abundant is its flow.” Antoine De Saint-Exupery

I, personally, have proven this over and over in my life, but still don’t do it enough.  Often, walking the streets of New York, I stop and hand a beggar a twenty.  I like to give twenties because I know it can really make an impact on a life.

The experience always lifts me up and I always continue walking a different person, buoyed and evolved.  And by the way, I have never missed one of those twenties – never even thought about missing them.

“From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.”  Arthur Ashe

Of course, not only does it improve the quality of their life, but it clearly lifts our own life up to the highest of levels.  We have just given what we could have kept.  Would keeping it have enriched our lives so?

“Give and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over…” Luke 6:38

What is it that we do not get about this?  The wisdom of the ages tells us to go out and give and also explains why.  Then the demonstration thereof always pays off tenfold.  The Bible says,“Give, and it shall be given to you. For whatever measure you deal out to others, it will be dealt to you in return.” So if we sit here reading this, nodding our heads north and south, why don’t we write that check, give that time, share that food, love back without consideration?

“He who obtains has little. He who scatters has much.” Lao-Tzu

What about when you give and the return is not immediately recognizable?  That’s happened to all of us.  We give and someone ignores the act.  The return is simply not immediately recognizable, that’s all.  Not one of these prescient people said that the return would necessarily come from the person to whom you gave.  It’s the universe that gives back.  Call it God if you please.  It’s the law of God’s universe that supports the concept.

Besides, if you’re looking for a return then you don’t really ‘get’ the concept.  Giving is simply giving.  The act is a pure one.  There is no “deal”.  There is no expectation of the result of giving.  It has to be pure in its integrity.  If there’s an expected or anticipated return, then the concept of giving morphs into the concept of lending and that’s where we all seem to start getting into trouble.

“It is rare indeed that people give. Most people guard and keep; they suppose that it is they themselves and what they identify with themselves that they are guarding and keeping, whereas what they are actually guarding and keeping is their system of reality and what they assume themselves to be.” James Baldwin

Really rich people give a lot.  It’s why they stay rich.  They figured it out.  “Well”, you say, “they’re rich.  They can afford to give”.  But I think it works in reverse.  It works the way the wise people have suggested.  The rich people just work the concept.  They give and so they are rich.  I’m talking about really rich people here – not just people with a lot of money.

Two pages should be enough on this to remind us of this absolute life principle.  Why beat a dead horse?  What is it we don’t get about this?  It’s all laid out there before us.  We just need to take a deep breath and give it a try.  Expecting nothing in return, but simply knowing that the law is in effect, always was, always will be.

“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” Mother Teresa

This great little nun lady knew what she was talking about.  She demonstrated her knowing with her life.

What can you give today?  Right now.

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