It's good to receive

Each year, the WL student leadership team meets weekly. As part of our weekly meeting, we have a devotion. This year, we have been reading through The Cup of Our Life by Joyce Rupp. The author takes the image of a cup and uses it to reflect on our spiritual journey. At this point in our reading, she has been writing about the image of an empty cup. She states that when we have an empty cup - when we are empty - then we are ready to receive. We are ready to receive God's love and grace and the gifts of others.

One of the hallmarks of our society is that we are an individualistic culture. We take pride in being able to do things on our own. We like to say that we can pull ourselves up by own our bootstraps without any help from any one else. It's difficult for us to ask for help. Yet, the scripture tells us it is better to give than to receive. It doesn't say that we should never receive or that receiving is bad. In fact, there are times that we need to be receivers.

During Jesus' last days before his crucifixion, his closest friends did not understand what was before him. It certainly must have been a difficult time for Jesus. He kept giving and giving to those around him, while needing support from his loved ones. Then one evening a woman came with a very expensive jar of ointment (about one year's salary worth) and annointed his head with it. The disciples were puzzled and even angry that she wasted so much money. (Matthew 26:6-13) Yet, Jesus defended her. He needed to receive her blessing and love.

We are now entering that stressful time of midterms. There is more work to be done that we would like and too many demands on our time. And that is just the time we need to be good receivers. If someone offers help, take them up on it. And don't be afraid to ask for help - whether it's with a class or sorting out a problem or relationship in your life. God created us to support each other and to be in relationship and community together. It's good for us to be able to give to others and to show God's love - but it is also a very good thing for us to be able to receive that love and support and let others give to us.