“Bidden or Not Bidden, God is Present” — CG Jung
“Bidden or Not Bidden, God sends Presents” PR Soupiset
I'm sneaking in a quick post while Photoshop automates a huge web photo gallery for a client. My last post discussed oysters. This post also centers around lunch, but food's not so much the topic. I had a great lunch not just attended by, but provided by my friend Casey.
This might seem unremarkable (having a friend bring you lunch) except that [1] this is the second week in a row that i've been greeted with this generosity [2] Casey makes a mean peanut-butter-and-honey sandwich. [3] both times he's brought me lunch he hasn't brought food for himself. (okay, so he tends to eat late brunches with other folks). I'm all for generosity. And when "free" and "food" are used in the same breath, my ears perk up. But I'm not so good at receiving surprise gifts. Casey's PB&H sandwiches. Betsy's amazing knitting, etc.
I'm okay when I ask for a freebie, but unbidden? Too much grace. Which of course got me thinking about grace and gifts, and got Casey talking about gifts, physical and spiritual, and talking about church community and how church, or the missional community, or the ecclesia, or whatever, should be a place of gifting. Bringing gifts, giving gifts, learning how to receive gifts. Not a new thought, but a good one to ponder.
I had the privilege of listening to the late Stan Grenz discuss all of the limited metaphors we ascribe the Trinity, but one of his favorites, corresponding to Father - Son - Spirit, was "Giver - Gift - Giving". Think about it. It's a rich metaphor.
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