The question of the day to answer for me was…
Do you see yourself as a person who has lots to give, or lots to get?
Yesterday, my daughter wanted to do a bit of shopping here in St. Moritz, where we’re staying for two days. So I agreed to go with her for a couple of hours.
Honestly, shopping can be one of the most exhausting activities on earth. I do it once in a while because I need clothes to wear and other odds and ends, and I don’t mind looking for fun on occasion. But I frequently last about 20 minutes and my enthusiasm meter starts sinking quickly. My wife really dislikes shopping, which is a good thing by the way! It sure helps keep the bills down.
Anyway, getting sidetracked…as we were walking down the street, and mostly window shopping, I asked myself why shopping often leaves me feeling depleted if I do it for very long.
Then it hit me, “Shopping is about getting stuff. It’s not about giving. It’s about getting.” And when you think you need to “get something,” you obviously believe you lack something, and you unwittingly start to manifest the belief of lack in other ways than just what doesn’t sit on your shelf at home.
I started to reason my query through spiritually.
Life is Love, as we learn in Christian Science. Life is experienced at its best when we are engaged in some activity of Love.
Love is about giving, sharing, caring, and participating in the beneficence of God’s grace upon one and all, and these kinds of mental engagements uplift thought, inspire attitude, and give wholesome meaning and purpose to life. They keep us healthy too.
As I pondered my question, I realized that if we begin our day with, “I need something,” we’re reasoning out from a premise of lack. And I’m not talking just about getting things. It could be getting attention, getting famous, getting known, getting money, getting someone to do something our way, getting revenge, getting angry, and all of their kin. An attitude that believes it needs to get something believes it lacks something. And this is not a cool way to live. It’s can be downright miserable, honestly.
I realize there are millions of people in the world who have yet to receive the basics for human survival, like food and shelter. I’m not talking about those kinds of needs. That’s a whole different subject to address.
But back to my question…”Do I see myself as someone who has lots to give, or as someone with lots to get?”
As I walked around the lake at St. Moritz this morning with my son and wrestled with the implications of answering this question aright, I easily concluded that “I have lots to give!” And I truly do. Why? Not because I possess a lot of good myself. I don’t. I don’t possess any good. I reflect it as God’s image. And God is infinite. As God’s image, I have lots to give…in fact an infinite amount of goodness and love to give.
I’m still learning it, but two decades ago when I entered the full-time practice of Christian Science, I came to terms with the truth that God is my Source, my Supplier, and my Sustainer. The world could not offer me anything that was better and more enriching than what came directly to me from divine Love, I decided. Life is not about getting. That is the self-centered mortal way of vainly seeking what comes only from Spirit. Life is about giving.
In giving we receive, and in true unselfish giving we receive mightily and abundantly. It’s just the way the law of Love works. Give and you shall receive, as Jesus taught and demonstrated.
This was a very productive day in the spiritual course of things, and I’m grateful for it. I like the idea of consciously knowing, “I have lots to give!” It’s very freeing. I encourage you to give it a try, if you haven’t already!
Lake with St. Moritz in the background
PSALM XXIII
S&H 578:4-18
And my interpretation between each passage.
DIVINE LOVE is my shepherd; I shall not want.
My divine Mind is my Guide, in all ways and at all times; I want for nothing.
LOVE maketh me to lie down in green pastures: LOVE leadeth me beside the still waters.
The divine Love that created me provides every good experience; I am always led in safety.
LOVE restoreth my soul (spiritual sense).
The Truth that is my Principle continually gives me the right perspective.
LOVE leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Because God is All, Love expresses me as reflection; we co-exist as Mind and idea.; therefore, I cannot go astray!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for LOVE is with me; LOVE’S rod and LOVE’S staff they comfort me.
In the realm of human beliefs, there is a belief that
man dies, but I need not fear this misperception, for Love is always with me; Love’s law of protection and support comfort me.
LOVE prepareth a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; LOVE anointeth my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Divine Love, being unlimited in every way, has infinite resources with which to bless me, pouring out Its goodness on me, on all, abundantly!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house [the consciousness] of LOVE for ever.
I know that God’s love is with me forever and ever and ever. I can be conscious of nothing else.
Amen
I would like to suggest another slant here. When I have shopped in the past, I have found it helpful to view the variety of items available as evidence of God’s infinite care and abundant supply. Also, the act of shopping can be seen as an act of giving and sharing–we shop and in so doing, we help provide for jobs and support others in their way of giving and expressing love. If I am thinking of it only in very small terms of how it effects me alone, then it seems an act of trying to get something, but if I include all, I see that it too is a service to all. I see that the act of shopping may, at times, be a call for me to go out and bless and share from the infinite storehouse. What is the economy, in the material sense, but the collective sense of either fear or confidence? When fearful, people decide to hold onto what they have with clenched fists and refuse to spend for fear that they will not have enough. Shopping, can be, just like anything else, a blessing to all when we listen for direction and see it through the correct view.
Years ago, my wife and I went shopping for clothes. She has somewhat rounded shoulders and it, at times, can be hard to fit her well.
While she was trying on things in the dressing room, I was joking around with the salesclerk having fun, enjoying the moment.
During the weekend, we discovered that one of the items purchased had a flaw in it. So, on Monday, I stopped by after work to return the item.
The gal behind the counter remembered me and said, “I was so glad to see you here that day. The sales person who was helping you had her mother die just a few days before. That was the first time I’d seen her smile since it happened.”
Expressing joy, staying in the moment, remembering to actively be in touch with Love, can have some very unexpected turns, and in this case I was made aware of the outcome.
I try to keep this in mind when I shop.
Jim
You have all helped me today with your loving and insightful comments, and I am very grateful! Thank you so much! Bless you all.
Miki