On Giving

Then said a rich man, Speak to us of

Giving.

And he answered:

You give but little when you give of

your possessions.

It is when you give of yourself that you

truly give.

For what are your possessions but things

you keep and guard for fear you may need

them tomorrow?

And tomorrow, what shall tomorrow bring

to the overprudent dog burying bones

in the trackless sand as he follows the

pilgrims to the holy city?

And what is fear of need but need

itself?

Is not dread of thirst when your well is

full, the thirst that is unquenchable?

There are those who give little of the

much which they have--and they give

it for recognition and their hidden

desire makes their gifts unwholesome.

And there are those who have little and

give it all.

These are the believers in life and

the bounty of life, and their coffer is

never empty.

There are those who give with joy, and

that joy is their reward.

And there are those who give with pain,

and that pain is their baptism.

And there are those who give and know

not pain in giving, nor do they seek

joy, nor give with mindfulness of

virtue;

They give as in yonder valley the myrtle

breathes its fragrance into space.

Through the hands of such as these God

speaks, and from behind their eyes He

smiles upon the earth.

It is well to give when asked, but it

is better to give unasked, through

understanding;

And to the open-handed the search for

one who shall receive is joy greater

than giving.

And is there aught you would withhold?

All you have shall some day be given;

Therefore give now, that the season

of giving may be yours and not your

inheritors’.

You often say, “I would give, but only

to the deserving.”

The trees in your orchard say not so,

nor the flocks in your pasture.

They give that they may live, for to

withhold is to perish.

Surely he who is worthy to receive his

days and his nights, is worthy of all

else from you.

And he who has deserved to drink from

the ocean of life deserves to fill his

cup from your little stream.

And what desert greater shall there be,

than that which lies in the courage

and the confidence, nay the charity, of

receiving?

And who are you that men should rend

their bosom and unveil their pride,

that you may see their worth naked and

their pride unabashed?

See first that you yourself deserve to

be a giver, and an instrument of giving.

For in truth it is life that gives unto

life--while you, who deem yourself a

giver, are but a witness.

And you receivers--and you are

all receivers--assume no weight of

gratitude, lest you lay a yoke upon

yourself and upon him who gives.

Rather rise together with the giver on

his gifts as on wings;

For to be overmindful of your debt, is

to doubt his generosity who has the

freehearted earth for mother, and God

for father.