Other Guy Thinking
What am I thankful for?
I know Thanksgiving is several weeks away, but I like to start thinking about these things early.
From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded. - Luke 12:48
In Gospel today's reading, we are told that those of us who have much to be thankful for will be expected to do the most.
It seems fair, doesn't it? If I have much, I should be required to give much and to do much with what I have. And if I have the responsibility for many, I should find that responsibility demanding of my time and energy.
But there is a problem with this comparative analysis of those who have much versus those who have little. How much is much?
I tend to look at what I have and say surely this requirement to give and do is greater on the other guy who has more.
And if I see someone I believe has much more appear to do very little, doesn't that justify me doing less?
When we get ourselves stuck in this Other Guy Dilemma, we do nothing. Unless we are given an incentive, like a tax break or a promise of future gain, we hold onto what we have and point to those who have more to do something.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, why not turn the tables on that thinking and be the other guy?
Each day, I see first hand that there are plenty of people in my own neighborhood who have far less than I. To them, I am that other guy. I need to see that I am the one to whom much has been given.
The easiest thing to give is my time. I can carve out an hour here and another there to serve or to just be present.
By doing that, I get to know those I serve, and through love, I want to do more.
That's how God works through us. He brings us all to the same table and tells us to share a meal, to be in each other's company. And then all of us Other Guys, get to see that the responsibility that comes with being given much is not a demanding one, but a joyful one.
We leave with more than we came with. And that's part of the plan. When we are given much in love and grace, we need to share that as well.
So, over the next month, let us all transform our perspectives and turn away from Other Guy Thinking.
Instead, let us Be The Guy who gives and does without expecting a return. We will be surprised at the change it brings in all of us.
More to come...