TRIGGERS

During the 2012 election, I learned something about myself: politics triggers a deep emotional reaction in me, far out of proportion to the parties or candidates involved.

When someone engages in a debate to convince me why my political views are wrong, I fly back to a place in childhood where abuse taught me You don't know what you know. You don't feel what you feel. You don't think what you think. 

After that, it doesn't matter how well reasoned or polite my opponent is. I am angry at being made to feel stupid and helpless. That's when I decided I should steer clear of political discussions.

Today in Deuteronomy Moses told us one of God's trigger points. (Yup, apparently He has them too.) The Message paraphrase actually uses the word "trigger": The way you handle things like this triggers God. your God's, blessing in everything you do. (Deuteronomy 15:10)

There's something we can do that will create an automatic response from God, blessing on everything we do? Wow. Let me in on the secret.

Here it is: Give freely and spontaneously. Don't have a stingy heart. 

A few verses earlier, God said, "When you happen on someone who's in trouble or needs help. . .don't look the other way."

We know who needs our gifts.

A few practical thoughts:

Give time.  When someone at the nursing home needs a nurse's attention--get it for them.

Give talents. When someone asks me to play the piano--I should play.

Give money. Even to the person sitting at the side of the road. Don't look the other way. 

Don't wait until someone asks for help. Give proactively when you see a need.

Trouble and need don't always mean financial help. It's often the more difficult job of giving of ourselves.

And as we do that . . . as we should do . . . give freely as we have been given much . . .we'll see what response that triggers from God.

Something unexpected. Something amazing. Something wonderful.