Enough

By Pastor Paul Gauche

Today’s Word: ‘Enough’ as in… how much is enough?

We thrive as generous people when the abundance of the few transforms the scarcity of the many into a feast of blessing where everyone has enough. In “Wishful Thinking: A Seeker’s ABC,” Frederick Buechner identifies generosity as an expression of vocation:

 “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”

In that intersection, the world begins to understand enough.

Imagine a world where everyone has enough, where kids have enough food to eat and clothing to keep them warm and dry, and where people have adequate shelter to keep them safe and content. Imagine a world with enough playgrounds, lakes, rivers, and forests for people to enjoy. Imagine a world where people have enough love and support to help them thrive through all the joys and challenges of each day.

Enough? Enough!

Enough, however, can be very complicated. What is enough? How much is enough? Is enough really enough when someone has it, and someone else does not? And what about when our having enough comes at someone else’s expense?

Enough already!

In his book “Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis explores generosity and how we go about creating enough for others:

“I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. If our giving habits do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we want to do but cannot do because our giving expenditures exclude them.”

Our understanding of ‘enough’ begins with wrestling with these and similar questions. I am convinced that the abundance of the few can directly impact the scarcity many experience daily. When that happens, everyone has enough. Surely, I can find five loaves of bread and a couple of fish somewhere today.

Thriving Reflections:

++ How much is enough for you?

++ Is enough truly enough when we have it and those around us do not?

++ How does providing enough for others create a sense of thriving for you?

#100days50words

#Thriv’era

Paul Gauche is the Pastor of Life Transitions at Prince of Peace. His posts are part of his #100days50words project, where he blogs about a different word each week. You can follow his project on Instagram (@pgauche) or his blog, Thriving Rhythms.