Moochers :)

I have noticed an interesting phenomena over the last 20 days of our resolution.

First thing: I often feel the need to explain that I'm not just taking from the community, but that I'm also giving. Some people respond with thrill when we describe our goal... some even feeling inspired to join us in some form or another. Others seem to have a... "so you're gonna mooch on society" type attitude. This has been rare but not absent.

Second thing: I often noticed others feel the need to defend their own use of "freecyle" or the idea of re-using other people's items. Now, I KNOW that I am not standing in judgment of them so its not my subtle attitude causing them to give me an explanation.

These two things have caused me a lot of pondering :) Why would we feel... embarrassed? defensive? judged? for choosing to live within a community that shares its excess??? This makes me sad. I don't have the answers now. I can imagine that the few people in this world who have taken advantage of the generosity of others has given ALL recyclers fear of being viewed as the same. This is unfortunate.

Acts 2:45-47 says, "All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

What an awesome vision for this life of living on excess! THIS is my vision... not to spend as little money as possible taking from others... but to support ALL who are in need... and to be supported. There was no shame in this. Only joy.

May we each find the joy as we are blessed with the "extra" others give as well as the joy found in giving our "extra" to others. Give to everyone who has a need, no matter how big or small, and see how God meets your OWN needs... sometimes through others, sometimes through sheer miracles, sometimes through freecyle :)

I will end on this note. I will not defend our choice by listing all of the things I have given away... as if to justify my asking for things I am in need of. Just as I will not ask for a list of donations from a brother or sister in need of whom I am giving my things. In a world SO focused on self-interests and self-gain, we will certainly come across people who just don't understand. May we seek only to please our Lord and be justified before Him as we make decisions based on prayer and Scripture in an effort to live Spirit-filled lives. Go, therefore, give and receive! :)