Each year, we work with our kids on a growth plan for them in different areas of their lives (thanks Tim Kimmel for the idea). We're not always as intentional about it as we could be but this past year, one of the growth areas we identified was helping them understand the value and the discipline of generous living. It's certainly an up-hill climb in a culture such as ours, but one that is well worth the effort.
So it was a pleasant surprise to me when, coming into the fall, our 8 year old piped up and asked if he could volunteer with the Salvation Army to person a kettle for their Christmas fund-raising drive. I'm not sure where he got the idea or how he thought an 8 year old would be able to ensure the security of the cash outside a large retail establishment for 2 hours in the cold, but he really wanted to do it (which meant that daddy really wanted to do it). We took 3 shifts on subsequent Mondays, two at the provincial liquor store and one at Superstore. The following are some observations based on our adventures:
- People have a general proclivity towards generosity and helping others, but they generally need to be provided with concrete and easy opportunities to give. I'm not sure whether this is a hang-over from our Judeo-Christian heritage, a general sense of cultural obligation towards those who are "less fortunate", a by-product of the season (for example, would the kettle campaign work in the middle of summer? I would guess not as effectively) or something altogether different. My basic operational hypothesis arises out of the observation that when there was a kettle present, our local homeless shelter and Salvation Army programs received a boost of several hundred dollars per hour. No kettle = no revenue for that period. The lesson? Charitable organizations of all kinds benefit most when they give people easy on-ramps for participating in giving opportunities. For a creative one, see my friend's on-line foundation site ChimpFund
- People give toward things they understand. This flies slightly in the face of the usual charitable philosophy that people give toward that which they have as personal connection with. While this is undoubtedly true in some cases (do you support any missionaries you don't know? Most people don't), most people who walked out of the liquor store don't have a personal connection with the issues of homelessness. But they do understand it clearly. They understand the need, they understand (mostly through the local media) how this need is being met in a sustainable and holistic way through our local shelter, the Gateway of Hope. The lesson? Clarity is your friend. When your donors understand the cause and where their money is being spent, they tend to give with open hands and generous hearts.
- Guilt is a powerful but not significant motivator. My observations were that people who gave out of a sense of social obligation not to walk by a cute kids (my 8 year old) or a kettle, put in coins. Those who did so out of a genuine desire to assist and who did so with joy put in $5 or $20 bills. If you give out of guilt, you never sense the end of your obligation. But if you give out of a plan and out of a generous spirit, you get filled up by the action (as opposed to feeling temporarily relieved that you've "done your bit"). This also applies for those who volunteer. If you do it out of a sense of joy and passion for the people who will be the ultimate recipients of your labours, you come into your shift with a sense of purpose and meaning. If you do it simply because you signed up for it and you don't want to back out, the 2 hours ends up feeling very long. The lesson? Check your motives before you get into a situation where you feel pressured to give. Ask yourself why you feel guilt or joy. Ask why this cause stirs your heart. Ask why you feel the need to fumble out an excuse like "I gave at the office" as opposed to having a settledness is your spirit that you have given what God would have you give this year.
- Generosity Breeds Further Generosity. The generous spirit of an 8 year old in contagious. We've had lots of conversations in our house this month about what it means to be generous and how we can further stretch ourselves in this area. My 8 year old is now thinking of additional ways that he can raise money for people who need it. His next project is raising funds for wheelchairs in Guatemala (he's planning an on-line art auction - stay tuned to this space for more info). Proverbs 11:25 says that those who refresh others, will themselves be refreshed. In other words, there's something of a snowball effect when genuine generosity is present. Other people want to emulate it and the spirit of giving and sacrifice inspires others to do the same. The lesson? Think of what small, concrete actions you could initiate to cause an avalanche of generosity in your family or your faith community in 2012. What dreams and visions might you be a part of unleashing simply by listening to those around you and partnering with them on their intended acts of generosity? You just might end up with some thoughts on generosity of your own to share!
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