Giving for the Glory

I had an interesting conversation last night with a friend, mostly about where I work over the summer and the various people he has known who have spent time in the community. Over the summers I work at the L'arche community in Richmondhill which was founded by Jean Vanier in the 1960s. It's a place where people with disabilities can go in order to make a life and be appreciated for the incredible things that they have to offer to the rest of the world. For me, the reason why I work there is the incredible joy that I receive for being there. And it is incredible. The time I get to spend there doesn't only fill my heart, but causes it to overflow.

At a party on Friday night, someone praised me for what I do. I don't think I have ever been more uncomfortable in my life. It felt to me that the work I do is done in order to gain praise. And for some I suppose that it is. Somedays there can be the appeal of being able to gain attention because you are such a good person. That attention will not ever be healthy for anyone involved. It means that you are deceiving yourself and also those whom you are caring for. In order to give to get glory, you diminish what you are giving because you are counting it. While counting what your gifts, you hold back all that you have give. And in my life that is entirely unacceptable.

When you give all that you have, then you tend to find you get so much more in return. A heart that is open is never empty. Those who are able to count and measure what they are willing to give will never truly have an open heart, but always one that will always be partially closed. Giving to get glory will always be giving in order to earn something and then it will never be a free gift of yourself. It is only giving without counting the cost of what you give that the glory is in the right place. It shines around you and will never fail to reflect on you.

While some do give of their time and energy in order to gain glory for themselves, they will always be focused on the glory they may receive. It is only with an open heart and no desire for recognition that giving is truly good. The incredible part of giving in this way is that, in the end, you receive so very much more than you could ever have given.