The Currencies of Generosity

By Josh Suddath

Over the course of my adult life, I’ve had a number of serendipitous, or some might say sovereign encounters with “famous” people. Some of these people are the kind of famous that the public would quickly recognize, and some of them are less widely known, yet are men or women that I’ve followed for one reason or another. We’ve all had these “moments” where time stands still for a second and we think to ourselves, “Am I really standing here talking to this person?”

As these December days roll on and busy us with the hustle of endless lists, I’m reminded that the most valuable gifts are frequently those that cannot be bought, and I’m learning that generosity is delivered in many currencies. This reminder came for me wrapped in yet another recent encounter with a man I’ve followed for some time. As I hurried back to my car after a long lunch meeting, I turned the corner to climb the stairs to the parking garage, and I breezed past a group of people standing there in the alley way. I did a mental double take, as I was sure I’d recognized the face of a well-known pastor I’d seen before in various publications and on several big stages. Yes, that was him. I was sure of it. For whatever reason, rather than continue up the stairs, I turned back around the corner and interjected, “Are you _________ ________.” “I am,” he said, with a smile. “Oh, this is cool,” I said, “You…are pretty cool.” The comment drew a few chuckles from the man himself and from the group he was with. It was his countenance, however, and the next set of words that came out of his mouth, that gave me this Christmas gift. “Tell me about yourself,” he said, as he paused the conversation I’d interrupted and stepped forward in my direction. The warmth of his welcome was palpable, and there we were, on stage together. Those in his group curiously followed his lead, “Yes, tell us about yourself…”

In the brief few minutes that followed, we shared some laughs, some sympathies, some connections, and maybe most importantly, we shared the joy of our common Christ. As the few of us gathered there in that moment, there He was, in our midst.

We live in an age of celebrity pastors and internet personalities. The bigger the stage, the more important the person. And yet, in this Christmas season, we remember a Savior who “left his Father’s throne above, so free, so infinite his grace, and emptied himself of all but love.” One who didn’t consider equality with God something to be grasped. He took on the nature of a servant being made a person just like us, and he humbled himself. What a gift. Following in the way of the Savior, this pastor had modeled for me a rich currency of generosity: the generosity of his humble presence. As it seems, for this man who lives on big stages, no stage is too small. People are just people, no matter their status, their wealth, or their influence.

This Christmas, may your stages get smaller as you look for quiet moments to share with those He might put in your path. May your dealings be rich with the many currencies of generosity, may you sense His presence in your midst, and may your joy be full.