Getting Back to the Point

A sample of dancing for an offering at our church

As we approach another major holiday while in another culture, I want to finish some important reflection on the last big holiday. We actually saw a big change in Thanksgiving services this year from last year in the churches in our city. Last year the special Thanksgiving services had big invitation lists and, as they’re scheduled on a different Sunday for each church, they were attended by lots of people from all four churches in town. So they were huge celebrations. This year they were noticeably smaller, more similar to the set-up of a normal Sunday, and mostly attended by members from the own churches. We have heard the churches had discussion about how the celebrations and pressure was too big last year. And in fact, people went into debt for months because they had given so much money that they did not have. Can you imagine that? Going into debt because of your charity giving! Not because of toys for your children or a new car… Not an improvement on the house… I’m not suggesting that we should start going into debt in the ways we give to charity, but I think it’s an interesting challenge between the two cultures to go to greater lengths in our giving. On the other hand, I think it’s pretty inspiring that the churches saw they were going in a dangerous direction, checked it, and intentionally changed for this year’s celebrations, so that they could get back to the point of the thanksgiving (rather than be carried away by the social competition of extravagance). What would our Christmas celebrations look like next year if we don’t just try to make the same thing bigger or more impressive, but reflect on how we can get back to the main point of what we’re doing?

Finally, we were also inspired by the celebration at the church of mostly immigrants, with the least finances, where the time of giving their thanksgiving offerings was marked by the exuberance of what could be compared to a conga-line at a wedding where all the guests had had too much to drink. As they danced down the aisle, they were sold-out to enjoying the special opportunity to give and outwardly matching their inner joy for how God had blessed them this year.

--La Maestra