https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkbxGvsNWfY.

While I was attending to my garden, the above song played in my Spotify list. I had never heard it before but was stopped in my gardening project to really listen to the words. “It’s what you do with what you’ve got,” that got me. My dad used to say, it is not how much money one makes but what you do with it that matters. I don’t know if my dad was always thinking about being as altruistic and generous as the rest of the song implies but it gave me a remembrance smile.

It is such a timely message during these turbulent times.

For it seems as if a typical reaction to when things are difficult is to shelter in- like a turtle- draw yourself into your little shell of a home and hope the predator goes away. Or, another typical reaction is to blame others for one’s predicament. Which can either cause resentment, bitterness or victimhood.

What I like about this song is the reminder that our lives are all about sharing and caring for one another. And, it doesn’t matter the circumstances of one’s birth: into what family you’ve been born, what socio-economic class, or what physical, social or even spiritual gifts you’ve been given. What matters is what you do with what you have.

Similar to Jesus teaching about one’s talents. It is important to grow and develop those talents. It is important to grow and share what one has.

Recently I heard an illustration about heaven and hell. In both places a banquet is occurring. In hell, all the individuals are shackled on their arms. As such, they cannot feed themselves and the atmosphere is one of deprivation. In heaven, the individuals are also all shackled on their arms yet there is an atmosphere of joy and celebration. The difference- in hell each is trying to reach one’s own mouth with food and it cannot be done. In heaven, each is feeding each other and so everyone gets fed.

There is an interesting organization: The Human Generosity Project. According to its website: “The Human Generosity Project is the first large-scale transdisciplinary research project to investigate the interrelationship between biological and cultural influences on human generosity. We use multiple methodologies to understand the nature and evolution of human generosity including fieldwork, laboratory experiments and computational modeling.” (humangenerosity.org). Through this project and information, the researchers are trying to understand and apply human generosity to resource management and disaster recovery.

What about you? Do you make due with what you have? Do you share? Do you use/share your talents, circumstance, time or treasure for others?

It's not just what you're born with
It′s what you choose to bear
It′s not how big your share is
But how much you can share
And it's not the fights you dreamed of
But those you really fought
It′s not what you've been given
It′s what you do with what you've got

More and more I am praying for a generous heart and spirit. Not just with time, talent and treasure but also with my attitude towards others. Especially towards those I might not have (seemingly) anything in common or with whom I do not agree.