By: Sarah Byers, BA 2016
As classes come to a close, I’m deeply curious about the long-lasting effects of this class on its participants. Ostensibly, our experiences learning about both the need existing around us, and our community leaders spearheading an attack on that need, will precipitate giving. As I read Richard Gunderman’s book, “We Make a Life by What We Give,” it causes me to reflect on my personal attitude towards giving.
Gunderman says “At first, it is a shock to realize that we can part with something, even the things that we think we hold most dear, without feeling that a part of us has been amputated. We are not like machines losing parts. We are like trees sending out roots, or better yet, casting their seeds to the wind.”
Dissimilar to a machine losing parts, we can give, in more than exiguous capacities, without creating a void. The paradox of humanity is that we are happiest when we do things for other people to make them happy. One could argue that we even give more to ourselves when we give to other people. Experiencing the Journey of Generosity weekend that was part of our course, volunteering, and working closely with the non-profits this semester has kindled in me a desire to give. We have become cognizant, as a class, of the truth of how happy giving actually makes the gift-giver. We should continue being in the habit of giving, and giving well. Giving is altruism that ends up being self-serving. I’ll be happier when my life is one built on tenants of generosity and obedience to God.
Luke 18:18-22 says “A certain ruler asked him, ‘Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ ‘Why do you call me good?’ Jesus answered. ‘No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’ ‘All these I have kept since I was a boy,’ he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
The charge to give what one has to the poor and to dispose of excess wealth sang to me loudly as I read this passage. As I’ve learned this semester how happy giving makes the gift-giver, it seems ironic that the wealthy man became saddened at the prospects of giving away his wealth. We are all embarking from this class with a deepened understanding that giving brings us gladness. And my hope is that this deepened understanding is long-lasting. I hope to be committed, motivated, and encouraged often of the importance of helping those who are in need, and the happiness that accompanies the magnanimity. Commitment to the lifestyle of generosity is like showering- we recommend it daily.
About the Author: Sarah Byers is a senior Pre-law student from Indiana, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Gerontology. She is passionate about quality of life for older adults and leads a service organization oriented towards improving conditions for senior citizens in her Waco community. She is interning this spring in the Senate Special Committee on Aging in Washington D.C., and hopes to be awarded the Fulbright Garcia-Robles Public Policy initiative award to study for a Master’s in Public Policy in Guadalajara, Mexico to fill her gap year before law school.