Reckoning & Giving

It's 12/31, a time of reckoning and of giving. As a society and as individuals we reckon our successes and limitations for the past year. Note the profusion of  "the best of 2012" displays in media, like this look back at the news in Seattle.

We lay it out for ourselves: what did we accomplish, what does it all add up to? At the same time this is a season of giving, motivated perhaps in part by an effort to balance things out. We are moved by the stories of high moments and low, and ask "Was I generous enough?" The tax code colludes with our need for balance, offering a final chance to take a charitable gift deduction for the year that has passed. And the appeals arrive by mail and email from the nonprofit groups that hope to benefit from a final "personally significant" donation. I say that without irony or irritation -- the requests are part of the cycle of giving that I respect and participate in as a fundraising professional.

In my own reckoning I have come across a couple of sentiments that are guiding my year end giving. Consider these, and please add more from your own reckoning.

• "It's not what you gather but what you scatter that tells the most about how you've lived your life." From a church signboard, as shared in a previous post on Generosity.
• "Today I reallocate the flow of my money to redirect towards the people, causes and organizations that speak to me and honor what I say is important." From a daily sufficiency reminder courtesy of Gina Laroche of Seven Stones Leadership.