Heart - Creative generosity in this season

 

Sunday, I did a session on "Practicing Creative Generosity" at my church. The point was to turn away from the hyper consumerism that often occurs during December and look at other ways to be generous this season.  There have been many calls this year to boycott Amazon, Target, Walmart, to name a few.  Jim Wallis in his Substack post, "No Amazon for Advent" wrote:

“Instead of enriching the world’s wealthiest, we choose to strengthen the places and people that make our communities whole. We choose local businesses struggling to survive, nonprofits caring for the vulnerable, and neighbors in need of compassion. We choose to pass down memories to our new generations through the gifting of heirlooms and other items that hold special importance to us and our families. We practice being intentional by spending less on things and more on purpose.” 

"Let’s make Advent not a time of consumption, but of community, hope, and renewal.Together, we can embody our faith's call to love our neighbor and choose to invest in people,not corporations. Our gifts can build justice, nurture connection, and bring light tothose around us. "

Even the Star Tribune published an article by Harvey McKay in the Business Section on December 1, "For Gifts, Think Outside the Box."  He wrote:

"When it comes to creative gifts that can be given for any occasion, the key is to think outside the box and personalize the gift to make it memorable.

These are some of my favorites.

Personalized puzzle: Create a custom puzzle using a photo that holds significance for the recipient.

Customized cookbook: Compile a collection of recipes that you know the recipient loves or would enjoy trying. Include personal notes or stories related to each recipe.

Experience jar: Fill a jar with notes, each containing a different experience or activity you can do together."

During the 45 minute session, participants had an opportunity to think of different ways to express generosity in their gifts that didn't involve spending a lot of money, but rather spending time.  There was no shortage of ideas offered by those attending, including: offering a gift of companionship for a breakfast, lunch or dinner; preparing a family history and genealogy for younger relatives; recording favorite memories with siblings and the impact they had on your own life and then sharing with same siblings; baking, creating a meal to deliver or to share in the recipient's home; regifting a favorite book with a note on what made this a favorite.  Depending on age of recipient, there were a number of ways to create gifts that involved spending time, not money.  What kinds of creative generosity can you think of that would be well received by your own family, friends, or neighbors?  

And I'll close with a quote from one of my favorite authors, Robin Wall Kimmerer,

"Practicing contentment is a radical act in a

consumption-driven society."

May you find a new practice of creative generosity and contentment this season.