Friday Abundance

One of my favorite ideas is Parker Palmer’s way of teaching ABUNDANT LIVING.

Living Abundantly means having no fear of scarcity and understanding the larger concept of the flow of goods – or goodness. This means that our world’s logic is turned upside down.

Gripping tightly brings less and letting go means [we get] more.

My great husband sometimes wants this to apply to our family’s budget.  (Please don’t buy that boat today, my love.)  He might be right in the BIG picture, but at the moment, we need to pay the mortgage.  Plus he knows that that Mr. Palmer was referring to letting our slimmest financial resources flow freely to others who have need, rather than our own consumption.  I’m just sayin.’ 🙂

The radical part about the concept of abundant living is how it is proven so true as it relates to our spiritual gifts.  The fruits of God’s Spirit.

Living abundantly means we understand that we are channels through which all of these gifts can flow to others. Limitless as we are, limitless these blessings will flow.  But this is about God, and his love for us, not a Zen like universal energy – which is horizontal and earthly. We know that the greatest love begins and ends with a living, loving almighty God.  (kunk: digression averted.)

It is the truth of our creation.

He gives as we release. It’s vertical.

We see His provision and gradually realize that we are only getting a glimpse of what He really wants to give to us.

There might be a boat in there somewhere.

But more likely it’s indescribable joy.

We just have to get [our stuff] out of the way. We are far too easily pleased.

(see Ephesians 3!)