Giving & Divinity

Giving can be expressed and transferred to others in many forms: physical, financial, mental, emotional, and spiritual. For the most part when people think about giving, money or presents are top of mind. However, giving runs deeper than we can image. It’s a divine gift; it’s humbling.

Giving is a voluntary effort. One must deliberately choose to do something to be considered an act of giving.

In a positive sense, this is great. I willingly choose to:
• help someone move into his/her new apartment (physical)
• donate to charity and/or to the homeless; lend someone money (financial)
• compliment someone (mental/emotional)
• tithe to my house of worship (spiritual)

As we know, giving can unfortunately be negative. I willingly choose to:
• cause bodily harm to another person (physical)
• steal money (financial)
• criticize someone (mental/emotional)
• reject God and/or denounce other religions (spiritual)

The thought of giving overwhelmed me this morning while walking to work. I randomly saw a man give money (a few dollars) to a homeless person. The homeless person was grateful. Her life and attitude were [positively] changed all because of one kind act of giving. However, I noticed that the man’s expression never changed. I also noticed that he had only one arm. I was shocked and deeply touched. Here I am walking to work and on the verge of tears. He’s the one who should be spiting the world, but no…he’s giving. Now, that’s divine!

The act of giving is a divine blessing. Ironically, turning the corner to my office with "divine giving" on my mind - and what do I see? A man sitting on the back of an open truck with a semi-long red beard, red mustache, long red hair, and a bandana tied around his head. He looked familiar, so I smiled at the air. Passing the truck I read the company logo: “We have the divine touch. DIVINE MOVING & STORAGE.” Wow...

That being said: what we do in life obviously affects other people. Try to limit your negative giving output. When you are selfish, you are giving negativity to others. When you’re selfless, you are giving positivity to others. I charge you to think about what you do, everyday. Incorporate at least ONE act of positive giving on a daily basis. You may not know, but your actions can/may change the world.

GIVING