Mutual Giving: The Art of Receiving

I spent the summer of 2007 eating as much crawfish, gator, shrimp and catfish as I could, hanging out with teenagers on the bayous and sitting on the front porches of shrimp farmers who were experiencing the economic difficulties that were brought on in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.  The first summer that I dedicated to doing mission work with teenagers was spent on the Gulf Coast of Louisiana. The memories of that summer are vivid. The visceral emotions that I felt as I invested time in this small town on the bayou are impossible to replicate.

 

One of the larger elements of our ministry on the bayou that summer involved partnering with a local pastor to paint and weatherize houses in the community. It was rich work – exhausting for teenagers (in a good way) and tangibly rewarding.  Community members were thankful for the work that was being done and, often, more thankful for the energetic presence of teenagers at their homes. As the work of teenagers and adult leaders collided with the relational presence of so many grateful community members I watched something beautiful happen. What was taking place was much more than a house being painted or a gift being given – a transaction was taking place.

 

As the youth groups that visited the Gulf Coast painted homes up and down the bayou, they got the opportunity to learn from the homeowners about the rich heritage and way of life that those living on the Gulf Coast espouse themselves to and hold so dearly. Sometimes this included a sampling of the shrimp, crab and crawfish that are abundant in the area or an opportunity to safely encounter some of the wildlife that characterizes the bayou. What the students received in return for providing a fresh coat of paint was an incredible opportunity to learn and experience something from those they were serving.  Although what was given was not always tangible – it was always meaningful.

 

What was happening on the bayou that summer is something that YouthWorks strives to foster in all of the communities that we do work in. We aim to facilitate an opportunity for those that are being served to offer something in return – to participate in a mutual exchange of tangible or intangible items.

 

This exchange is called, “Mutual Giving.”

 

Often when engaging in service projects or mission trips, we think of ourselves as those that are entering into a situation to offer something without acknowledging that those being served also have something to offer. Humble service is not only about selfless giving – it is also about selfless receiving.  When we put ourselves in a position where we can humbly receive from those we are serving, we not only open up the opportunity for us to learn something new, we also honor that person in a real and tangible way.

 

This is difficult for me. My inclination is to work harder, longer and faster. To clinch my fist around a paint brush or hammer and get good work done. Mutual giving requires me to stop, take a step back, open up my hands and receive the moment. This open-handed posture of service is one that enables mutual giving to begin to take place.

 

Since the summer that I spent on the Gulf Coast, I’ve thought about service differently. When facilitating a mission trip or planning a service project, I’ve begun to consider not only how I can serve by giving, but also how I can give by receiving. I’ve begun to consider how I can open my hands and receive the moments that I am spending with those I’m serving and encourage others to do the same.  I’ve begun to think about how I can allow those moments to speak to me and shape me in some way.

 

As you consider your next service project or mission trip, think about how you can create an experience that allows those participating to not only serve in meaningful ways, but also receive in meaningful ways through mutual giving.

 

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Ben Capps blogs and helps develop training and programming materials for YouthWorks. Ben lives in South Minneapolis with his wife Bekah and daughter Margot and spends a lot of time with emerging adults. His life long goal is to rid the world of boring music, lack luster coffee and shirts that are not made of flannel.