Seeking Out Generous Solutions

I have too many books. I can't believe I'm saying that since I absolutely love books. But that is the problem. Every chance I get I pick up a new book and never have the time to read all of them. Many times I pick up a book because I am thinking of someone else who might want to read it. This quote sums up my problem so well, "Where is human nature so weak as in the bookstore?"— Henry Ward Beecher

Anyway, back to our problem of too many books. One day at the HCJB Global ministry service center, I was talking about this problem with several colleagues. It was almost exasperation. I needed to get rid of books but how could I do it in a way that meshed with our commitment to be Generous Minds? That was the question.

Then out of the blue, HCJB's senior editor Harold Goerzen piped up with an idea. He shared about a prison ministry that collected Christian literature to share with prisoners as they reached out. It's called "Library of Hope" and it was a perfect fit. Now as we get ready to downsize our library we have a generous option for this task.

But the thing that God really impressed upon my heart was Harold's generosity to me by sharing about the option. I had been complaining about my problem and searching for a solution to be generous but I had never thought that some of my friends might have the answer.

I don't think I'm alone in this struggle. So many times we don't stop and ask others to share with us what they know. We live in such an individualistic world that we don't think to seek out the generosity of others.

What problem are you dealing with today? Will you commit with me that the next time you hit a wall with an issue that you will seek out 1 or 2 people and ask them what they would do. Who knows what giving them the opportunity to be generous will uncover.

Comments

Global Nomad said…
Thanks, Jon and Mindy,

Great post with a practical application. A real live story of the moment.

Already you have shared the idea with others and I've added the Library of Hope to my favourites and will share about it on the Generosity-alive site in my blog there.
Global Nomad said…
A further thought...

Would you be happy for me to share the whole "Seeking out Generous Solutions" post on the GA-site?

Thanks,

Global Nomad
Ralph said…
Hey Jon,

Books should be used and reused and . . . well, you get the idea.

Of our collection of books, our oldest is from 1858. Its author is
Henry Ward Beecher.

Thanks for the great quote of his that you used!
Hey Global Nomad,

thanks for being generous with what you learned. Another great ministry to share books is called CRI (Christian Resources International). You can donate books to be shipped to English-speaking countries around the world.

Yes, you can post the article as long as you attribute.

Blessings,

Jon
Ralph, that is very cool about your oldest book. We have some books from the early 1900's but that is about as far back as ours go.

I love the smell of old books and the paper feels different. Why is that???

Blessings,

Jon and Mindy
Global Nomad said…
Thanks, Jon and Mindy,

Have posted your notes on the Generosity-Alive site. Great contribution.

Am also working through the "W" material and forwarding to others.

Will keep in touch,

David