Giving and receiving

Mark 4 : 21 - 25

The measure you give will be the measure you get.....

"And still more will be given to you.." I must admit that I tend to hoard my 'energy' these days. Because of lesser energy levels as mid - life catches up, I tend to weigh the costs of doing things. Should I visit....should I give a call.....should I do this chore now...should I just 'rest'.....and so on. It becomes a bit calculative, because I'm afraid to find myself exhausted and then 'grumpy'. Of course it gets a bit difficult, because these are all good choices. And I must admit that these days, I have to make choices as far as 'doing' is concerned. Yet, having said that, my activity levels still measure quite high and it is usually the connecting by visits/calls that gets put on hold.

Jesus was of course speaking about sharing the good news with others. Are we first of all aware what the good news is? Have we taken heed of it for ourselves? Why is it "good"? What does it mean in our lives and the lives of others? And if it is, really "good" what measure has been given to us, that we might sow generously, like the sower? Is there anything we still clutch, refusing or just not bothered to share with others?

It seems that we don't have to have everything in hand yet (as if we could), before we share. It is more a matter of willingness to spread the measure first, trusting that more will be placed into our hands as we act in faith. Maybe this means that God will honor our limited attempts if we just trust his boundless generosity....to supply our needs.

I have yet to work out how to apply this to my energy levels......which are really so variable these days. Sometimes, I am tired by little, while at other times, I am able to withstand much depletion of energy. This really must be mid-life, something that one has to accept rather than reject! May I just trust that He will put enough, just enough energy, as and when I need.