When it comes to time and resources we often think of giving and receiving. Some of us have received a lot. Some of us have given a lot. We often hear the idea of “giving back” which to my ears assumes the idea that you’ve taken something that you then need to give back.
Either way I’ve been thinking about the idea of sharing. What if the resources people already had access to, easily flowed through the interpersonal relationships that bound them in community, moving towards the areas of need or potential?
I think it’s possible, but at least two things have to happen. First, the idea of ownership of the resource needs to end (or at least diminish). Responsibility towards a resource is different than ownership. We are responsible (able to respond) to the resources we have access to, but we actually don’t own the resource itself.
Second, we have to be looking to give, and able to receive without consequence. Example: Just because I’m a generous giver doesn’t make me a better person. Just because I’ve received a lot doesn’t make me needy or special. Being the giver or receiver should not change the nature of the relationship between the people. It often does, but it shouldn’t.
What would it look like if we held all we were given with an open hand? What if we looked for opportunities to give and to receive. I suspect the world would be a different place.