The Paradox of Generosity

I recently finished reading a very interesting book called, “The Paradox of Generosity: Giving We Receive, Grasping We Lose.” The authors, Christian Smith and Hilary Davidson, are leaders of the Science of Generosity Initiative based at The University of Notre Dame. 

“The Paradox of Generosity” describes research testing the premise that people who are generous over time receive tangible health and wellness benefits as a result. This is an observation made not only in the Bible, but also in the teachings of many major world religions. For the Christian church, the apostle Paul’s encouragement in 2 Corinthians 9:6, provides one example: “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

The results of the Science of Generosity research, which included conversations with and surveys of large numbers of individuals throughout the United States, has led initiative leaders to conclude that it is true that people who are generous with their time, talent and treasure over a sustained period of time are happier and experience wellness to a greater degree than those who are not generous. According to the research, generosity … 

1. Fosters and reinforces positive emotions and reduces negative emotions in givers;
2. Triggers chemical systems in the brain and body that increase pleasure and experiences of reward, reduces stress, and suppresses pain;
3. Increases personal agency and self-efficacy;
4. Creates positive, meaningful social roles and personal self-identities for generous givers to live out:
5. Reduces maladaptive self-absorption;
6. Requires and reinforces the perception of living in a world of abundance and blessing;
7. Expands the number and density of social-network relational ties;
8. Promotes increased learning about the world;
9. Increases givers’ physical activity.

An obvious question when considering this research is the motivation for generosity. Are we generous because we know we will be happier and healthier? The interviews and case studies from the research indicate that generous people are aware of the benefits they receive from their generosity, but it is not their primary motivation. Instead, their generosity is motivated by factors such as their faith perspective, a desire to live into the examples set by their parents and significant others, or by personal experiences in which they benefitted from the generosity and care of others.

 

I read “The Paradox of Generosity” shortly after returning from Wheat Ridge Ministries’ 18th Annual President’s Circle Retreat in Austin, Texas. I sometimes refer to this gathering as our “stockholder’s meeting” because it brings together generous people who are making a significant investment in our seeding mission. Significant during this annual retreat are inspirational stories of impact presented by leaders of new ministries seeded by Wheat Ridge. The retreat is also a time of fun and fellowship as these like-minded people gather together.

 

It was so helpful to have on my mind those who attended this year’s retreat as I considered the implications of the Science of Generosity research. Our attendees represent so well the thousands of people who provide support for our mission and who serve others so generously through the encouragement they receive from the resources of Wheat Ridge Ministries. These wonderful people are great examples of generous living and the blessings that flow to and from both giver and receiver from generous living. Our President’s Circle Retreat is a mountaintop experience for me each year because it allows me to be inspired by, and learn from, people who are models of generous living. It is abundantly evident that these people lead generous lives, understanding that all that they possess comes from God’s abundant generosity and responding with joy to the greatest gift of all – the redemptive love of Jesus Christ. 

 

Wouldn’t it be great if living a generous life became recognized as the main prescription for happiness and wellness in the world? What if doctors prescribed generosity as a way to stay well? What if “The Paradox of Generosity” became a best seller? Imagine a world ruled by generosity, filled with people who understand and experience the observation of St. Francis of Assisi that it is in giving that we receive! 

 

Enjoy the celebration as your heart and voice is filled with joyful alleluias during this Easter season in response to God’s ultimate act of generosity, the new life that is ours through Christ’s victory over death! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

 

Red and Yellow, Black and White

"We must face the fact that in America, the church is still the most segregated major institution in America. At 11:00 on Sunday morning when we stand and sing and Christ has no east or west, we stand at the most segregated hour in this nation. This is tragic." Dr. Martin Luther King – 1963

I’ve thought about Dr. King’s observation many times over the years as I’ve worshipped in a variety of churches around the country while on the road for Wheat Ridge Ministries. My experience has been consistent with research that indicates that things haven’t changed much since 1963. A quick search turned up research that indicated that in the United States currently, in 90% of religious congregations, more than 80% of the congregation membership is comprised of a single racial group.

I was especially blessed recently to worship in a Lutheran church that is clearly among the 10% of churches where this is not true. Redeemer Lutheran Church is located in the Harrison neighborhood just north of downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was founded more than 100 years ago when persons of Swedish descent populated the neighborhood. As with many urban neighborhoods, the Harrison neighborhood has experienced many changes over the years and it has faced its share of economic challenges and other problems. Today, the neighborhood is in the midst of change again. It’s attracting a vibrant mix of people from a variety of races and cultures who are increasingly attracted by the close proximity to downtown Minneapolis.

For many years, Redeemer has been committed to being a center of health, hope and healing in the Harrison neighborhood. Pastor Kelly Chatman has a wonderful vision of the church as a transforming presence in the neighborhood. In 1998, Redeemer established a separate non-profit organization aligned with the congregation called the Redeemer Center for Life. The Center has been a springboard for a variety of new ministry ventures, ranging from low-income housing to businesses that provide vocational training and employment for young people in the neighborhood. Wheat Ridge Ministries has benefitted over the years from the opportunity to help seed several of these innovative efforts.

Although I have visited Redeemer many times over the years, I had not been able to join the congregation for worship until my visit there during the Martin Luther King Day weekend earlier this year. What an experience! The sanctuary was filled with a wonderfully diverse blend of people … young and old people, rich and poor people with a rich variety of skin colors and ethnic origins. All of these people gathered in community to worship God together and to partake in the body and blood of Christ at the communion table. The liturgy and music was a reflection of this great blend of styles and cultures.

The Good News shared by Pastor Kelly in his sermon included a wonderful application of the question asked of Phillip by Nathaniel in the Gospel of John, Chapter1:  “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Kelly observed that this question could be asked about all of us, as we each have characteristics that can cause doubt in the minds of others and, sometimes in our own minds, about whether we are worthy of God’s love.  And, he reminded us that God’s answer to this question is a resounding “Yes!” By God’s grace and through the redemptive power of Christ, good can come from all of us as we bring our unique gifts to the table in response to God’s love.

My worship experience at Redeemer reminded me of a song I learned as a child (you probably did, too), that I’ve been thinking about a lot since that Sunday:

Jesus loves the little children,

All the children of the world.

Red and yellow

Black and white

They are precious in His sight.

Jesus loves the little children

Of the world.

 

Wouldn’t it be great to live to see the day when Dr. King’s vision of all God’s people – people of all races, ages, sizes, cultures, education, states of health, and economic status – working, living, and even worshipping together, is the norm rather than an exception? What a great preparation for the eternity we will spend when we meet these brothers and sisters in Christ in heaven!  

Rick and Deb’s Excellent European Christmas Vacation

The Christmas holiday was especially memorable for the Herman family this year. Our daughter, Kris, has been living in Germany for the past four years. Although we’ve enjoyed visiting her several times, she’s been encouraging us to come at Christmas time. This year, we were able to make it happen. We recently returned from a wonderful two weeks with her and our other daughter, Katie, and our son-in-law, Tony, who also made the trip.

Other than some coughs and colds that we either transported from the U.S. or were gifted with as we arrived in Germany, the trip was absolutely great. I won’t go into detail about the culinary experiences. However, I did learn a few things. Did you know, for instance, that while mainly known for its very important role in World War II, the city of Nuremberg is also the birthplace of the bratwurst? Or that Nuremberg makes a similar claim regarding Lebkuchen, a wonderful gingerbread cookie? They are very serious about bratwurst in Nuremberg. They insist that authentic brats are small links, served three to a bun. Local restaurants have to earn a seal verifying that the brats they serve meet their high standards. Of course, we found brats of all kinds and lots of other great food and drink, as well as lots of handicrafts at the Christkindlmarkts in every city we visited. 

While exploring the food, drink and beauty of Germany at Christmas was great fun, what made this trip so special was the fact that the five of us were together virtually “24/7” for two entire weeks. Unprecedented territory for the Herman family! In a Chevy Chase movie, this would certainly have been a recipe for disaster. Fortunately, this wasn’t the case. In spite of tight quarters and all of us riding in Kris’ car for our numerous excursions, and the occasional need to have an extra measure of patience with each other, it was so nice to be together. Given our busy lifestyles and the fact that we live so far from each other (Deb and I are in Illinois and Katie and Tony live in California), this time together was a very unique opportunity – one we most likely won’t be able to pull off many more times. Our time together helped me appreciate anew God’s gift of family and the blessing of my wonderful wife, daughters and new son-in-law, who courageously agreed to spend two weeks in close quarters with his in-laws! 

I was also reminded of God’s gift of family when we worshipped on Christmas Eve at a community church in the town of Ramstein. You may recognize the name of this town. It is home to one of the largest U.S. Air Force bases in the world. We joined about 300 members of the military and their families. I sometimes forget how young most members of our military are! And if the number of small children present was any indication, having kids while in service to our country is a very popular pastime! It was an energetic and noisy worship service with the wonderful sounds of children and moms and dads singing Christmas hymns and listening to the Christmas story from Luke 2, as read by several of the children. Being with these people from far away places who gathered to worship the baby Jesus seemed so fitting as we heard Luke’s description of Jesus’ introduction to His mother and father and the extended family of people who came from all around to see Him in the manger: 

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

The Chevy Chase “Vacation” movies and other family comedies wouldn’t be so popular unless they reflected the reality of how challenging family life can really be.  So as we thank God for the gift of family, let’s also give thanks for the professionals and volunteers who dedicate their lives to encouraging, supporting and helping families be all that God intends them to be. May your family be a source of joy, love, peace, forgiveness, health and healing throughout the new year! 

Complaining About Complainers

These are great days to live in Chicago if you love being a critic or complainer. There were high expectations for our beloved Chicago Bears who, midway through the season, have been a huge disappointment. Like people all over the country, Chicagoans endured months of negative political campaign ads leading up to the November elections that convinced us that all candidates for political office are untrustworthy and incompetent. And, to complete a sort of perfect storm of current events to complain about, the early signs are that we may have to endure a winter that will compete with last year’s polar vortex-driven season of seemingly endless snow and cold. 

I realize that my comments here are yet another example about the culture of complaining that seems to have become the standard for our society. I’m complaining about complaining! It’s hard not to get sucked into the habit of complaining with great regularity. I find myself expressing displeasure with all sorts of things – the weather, politicians, sports teams, church politics, taxes, getting old, food prices, people who drive too slow (or too fast), etc.  

A well-known on-air personality at a Chicago radio station has a weekly segment on his show called “the bright side of life.” During this part of his time on the air, people call in and describe something positive and encouraging they saw or experienced during the past week. I always enjoy listening to this. It provides a needed antidote to the complaints that are so commonly shared on talk radio and in other media.  

I get the same lift from the steady flow of “bright side of life” stories of new ministries that Wheat Ridge Ministries is privileged to help seed. Here are two examples:

Club 100 Charities was started by a group of retired businessmen and women in Jupiter, Florida, who wanted to use their talents and experience to make a positive difference in their community. Many of these people are members of Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Juno Beach. In partnership with and on the property of a Haitian Christian church in Lake Park, they have developed a community center for children and families from local underserved neighborhoods, with services ranging from after-school tutoring and family counseling to sports programs, recreational activities and a food and clothing bank. When I attended the “grand opening” of this center recently, I was amazed by the variety of organizations committed to working together to make this program a success, including the local police department, teachers and students from schools and universities, the town’s mayor and the local chamber of commerce, professional athletes, and a variety of other generous volunteers. I know it’s become an over-used phrase, but I really felt like I was seeing a great example of “it takes a village to raise a child.”  

I was interviewed recently by a radio station in Detroit, Michigan, and was able to share Wheat Ridge Ministries’ role in another exciting and impactful new ministry. It was initiated by Grace in Action, a Lutheran church located in southwest Detroit. I have yet to visit this project in person, but two of our staff members are very excited about what they have seen there. The young leaders of this church have established a non-profit organization called Grace in Action Collectives that exists to help teens in their community gain leadership skills, vocational training, and job experience by creating revenue-producing businesses that provide services for the community. I’m particularly pleased that Wheat Ridge has been able to assist Grace in Action not only through a traditional seed grant, but also through our WeRaise crowdfunding site. Grace in Action raised over $21,000 on WeRaise to purchase a building to house the Collectives. 

Of course, complaining is nothing new. People have complained about each other, their circumstances, and their problems for a long time – think about Adam and Eve, the children of Israel wandering in the wilderness, the prophets and the disciples, just to name a few. As we enter the season of Advent, our complaints are another sign of a world in need of a Savior. 

Thankfully, there are also countless reminders (when I actually take time to look around) that while God didn’t create us to be complainers, God loves us even when we do. Fortunately, God did create us with a desire for service, community, care, kindness and generosity. Wonderful ministries such as Club 100’s Community Center and the Grace in Action Collectives remind me that it is possible to stop the complaining and fault-finding and focus instead on serving others with whom we share a common bond as recipients of God’s love made manifest in the birth of the Christ child.

So, away with the complaints and in with the hosannas! Oh come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

Seeds of Hope in New England

I heard a great seeding story last week that took place where I had never been before – Providence, Rhode Island. Not exactly the center of the Lutheran Christian church world, I suppose. This isn’t a story about seeds planted by Wheat Ridge Ministries, although it was told to me by two generous and faithful supporters of Wheat Ridge, Edwin and Margaret Boger. 

We were in the midst of a lively conversation about the work of Wheat Ridge, the changing state of the Lutheran church, and the good work of Ascentria Care Alliance on whose board of directors Ed served when it was still known as Lutheran Social Services of New England, when Margaret mentioned that they were long-time members of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Providence. She shared how disappointed they were that the Lutheran school that operated at the church closed. This happened over 20 years ago, but this still saddens them.

Then Margaret shared a wonderful story. A short time after the school closed, a young priest, who called himself Brother Larry, stopped by the church. He wanted to establish a special school in the neighborhood that would provide a quality education for boys who came from challenging circumstances and needed extra help and support. Brother Larry knew that St. Paul Lutheran’s school facility was vacant and was hoping they might allow him to use the facility to establish his school. The leaders at St. Paul at that time decided that Brother Larry could use the school’s facility rent-free until the school could secure the funding it needed.

As Margaret was sharing this, I was thinking that something about the name “Brother Larry” was very familiar, so I asked Margaret what he named the school. She said, “San Miguel.” Then it dawned on me.  She was talking about Brother Lawrence Goyette, who is well known in Christian education circles as the founder of the San Miguel schools.  Today, there are 12 San Miguel schools across the country, all focused on providing quality education to underserved kids. One of the schools is in Chicago. In fact, the executive director of the school in Chicago for a period of time recently was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest, Illinois.

Since Margaret and Ed shared this story with me, I’ve been thinking a lot about this act of generosity by St. Paul Lutheran Church. After all, he was a Catholic priest and the school he wanted to open certainly was not a “Lutheran” school. How easy it would have been to insist that Brother Larry pay rent in exchange for using the classrooms. Instead, God’s Spirit moved the leaders to this act of generosity and helped them see how the church could help serve needy children in the community. Here’s the impact of their decision as described by Brother Larry on the school’s website: “The greatest single gift to our small school during its infancy was the rent-free use of St. Paul's former school building. The Lutheran Parish also charged no fee for utilities during our first couple of years. Without the generosity of St. Paul's parishioners, it is doubtful that the school would have made it past year three.”

Experts often talk about the importance of congregations as centers of health and healing in their community and the assets they bring to a neighborhood, including stability and economic value. It’s likely that none of these “strategic” considerations were on the minds of the leaders at St. Paul Lutheran when they made the decision to allow Brother Larry to use the church’s classrooms. In all likelihood, they just knew it was the right thing for them to do and they did it. As a result, their act of generosity helped make possible an impactful, new education ministry for children and their families in Providence and, eventually, in 11 other locations in the United States.

At Wheat Ridge, during our weekly devotion and prayer time, we are currently studying the well-known “dry bones” story from Ezekiel 37. While the story of St. Paul Lutheran Church’s role in the founding of the San Miquel schools is not as dramatic as Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones coming to life at God’s command, it is another reminder that God is always at work in our broken world, breathing new life where there is pain and destruction and bringing hope where there was despair so that we can better grasp the miracle of God’s power, Christ’s victory over death for us.

Thank you Ed and Margaret for sharing this inspiring story and thanks to the good people of St. Paul Lutheran Church for your spirit of generosity! 

Here Come the Boomers … Final Thoughts

Given the transition of members of the Boomer generation into their older adult years, one could predict that we will begin to see a large increase in congregation ministries focused on the habits and lifestyles of aging Boomers. I have yet to see it at the church where my wife and I are members. Nor have I noticed a focus on boomer- sensitive older adult ministries among the requests for seeding assistance that Wheat Ridge Ministries is receiving from new health and human service ministries.

I’m not trying to be critical. Boomers are presenting a huge challenge for churches as we grow into our senior years. For example, it’s difficult to imagine myself participating in the traditional older adult ministries, such as group gatherings with names like “The Joy Group” or “Saved Seniors,” that have served members of the GI and Silent Generations so well. I’m hoping to enjoy several more years of service as a contemporary worship song leader and, as my schedule eventually becomes more flexible, engaging in other multi-generational activities in my church and community.

On the other hand, I suspect that as we age, Boomers will be grateful to be the beneficiaries of the care that churches have always provided for people as they face the inevitable health and independence issues that go along with growing old. A big question is whether churches will have the capacity to provide care for this large generation of people who are growing older.

I recently happened upon a blog written by Thom Rainer, CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources. Thom’s ministry focuses on observing and researching societal trends and their impact on the Christian church. In a recent post, he shares several ways that churches will feel the impact of retiring Boomers. He contends that “Retiring Boomers will kill traditional church senior adult ministries because they don’t like to be categorized as senior adults. Nor are they attracted by typical older adult ministry activities.” While this may be true, Thom’s observations about aging Boomers also include some interesting opportunities for the church, including:

1.      Some will have more volunteer time. But their retirement will break previous patterns. Many of these Boomers will continue to seek atypical retirement opportunities. There will be few “rocking chair” retirees among the Boomers. How can churches attract those Boomers who will have more discretionary time? Perhaps the next implication can answer that question.

2.      Most of the Boomers still want to change the world. Many of them may be disillusioned after four decades of work that was not meaningful and life changing. But they still have the spirit of the 60s, a spirit that desires to be different and to make a difference. If congregations can offer retiring Boomers such opportunities, there could be a surge of Boomer church adherents.

3.      The large Boomer generation will become more receptive to the gospel. Our data is anecdotal for now, but we are seeing indications that the Boomers may actually become more interested in spiritual matters in general and Christianity specifically. If so, this trend will be counter to other trends where adults tend to become less receptive to the gospel as they age. The Baby Boomers have tried it all and found no joy. They may likely turn to the hope of the gospel.

4.      Family will be a key value for both of the large generations. For the Millennials, family is their most important value. Nearly eight out of ten of the Millennials ranked family as the important issue in their lives. They told us that they had healthy relationships with their parents who, for the most part, are Baby Boomers. Some churches say they are family friendly, but few actually demonstrate that value. Churches that reach both of these generations will make significant impact.

To be sure, we who God put on the earth during a time that qualifies us as members of the Boomer generation will continue to be blessed by the healing touch of Christ as we grow older. What a blessing we can be to others as we respond to this Good News! 

I’m looking forward to the seeding opportunities that come to Wheat Ridge Ministries as churches and other Christ-centered organizations begin to focus on service to the Boomer generation. In the meantime, is your church considering or already engaged in “Boomer friendly” health and human care activity? If so, please use the response space below to share what you are doing. Thanks!

Enjoy the unique gifts of life that God provides in whatever generation you are blessed to call yours!

Here Come the Boomers … continued

Last month I cited several statistics from the recent National Institutes of Health (NIH) research study as evidence of the “sea of change” that is taking place in the United States as people like me, proud members of the baby boomer generation, grow older. This emerging wave of boomer older adults is causing much conversation about our nation’s ability to engage, care for and provide a safety net for the record numbers of older adults.

A high percentage of older adults is nothing new to most churches I visit during my travels for Wheat Ridge Ministries. Most of these people represent the “silent” and “GI” generations. What will our pews look like as these faithful and talented individuals are no longer in our pews? Will people of my generation remain active in worship and congregation leadership as they get older? And, just as important, will their children and grandchildren be active in the life of the church?

Two things are very evident from the recent NIH research. First, there is going to be a huge talent pool of skilled people who, as they retire or cut back on their employment, will have an increased amount of time to serve their community and their church. Second, since these increasing numbers of older adults will, on average, live longer than people of previous generations, the resources required to care for them during the later years of their life will increase significantly. 

Fortunately, our churches and communities are not without significant assets as we attempt to come to grips with the burgeoning older adult population. Organizations and activities focused on older adults in the Lutheran Church are a great example of this. The organizations that are members of Lutheran Services in America provide services to 1 out of every 50 people in the United States each year. Many of these people are older adults and many of them are served by a large number of excellent independent living, assisted living, and nursing care facilities for older adults, such as Lutheran Life Communities and Lutheran Homes of South Carolina. Lutheran Social Service organizations across the country, including great organizations like Lutheran Social Services of the South, Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, and Lutheran Social Services of New York are daily providing services for older adults.

I recently asked Rich Bimler, past president of Wheat Ridge, to share a list of some other organizations he knows that are focused on serving older adults. Rich is more aware of older adult activities and resources in the Lutheran church than anyone else I know. Here are just a few organizations from his list:

• Adult Lutherans Organized for Action (ALOA) – This is a national ministry focusing on older adults celebrating and serving.   
• Ignite your Life – This is a program sponsored by the Ammerman Center for Creative Aging.  Its focus is helping younger older adults through programs, resources and modeling.
• LCMS Rural and Small Town Ministries – Focus on rural ministries with an emphasis on older adults.
• LEA EncourAGEnet – Hosted by the Lutheran Education Association, this network provides encouragement for retired/repositioned church workers and laity.
• Rich and Charlie Resources – Provides “encouraging words to those who serve.”
• Creative Communications – They produce a great devotional resource for older adults called Hope-Full Living.
• Lutheran District and Synod Older Adult events – One example is the Veterans of the Cross Retreat for retired church workers, hosted by the Florida-Georgia District of the LCMS each year.  
• Grant Makers – Wheat Ridge Ministries is one of a number of Lutheran-related grant makers who provide resources to assist older adult ministry efforts that are developed by congregations and other faith-based and community organizations.

At the base of all of these efforts (I hope) is the ministry with and for older adults that takes place every day through the life of individual churches. For many older adults, their church is their place of community, the place where they gather with people of all ages for worship, service and fellowship. Local churches are uniquely positioned to serve our increasing numbers of older adults through their own programs and by partnering with others in their community.

More on all this in the next edition of Rick’s Reflections. In the meantime, to whatever degree you have been chronologically gifted, celebrate God’s gift of life today!