Abundance: It’s that word that you use that might not mean what you think it means

I was reading a book on world history recently and I discovered that all through our world history in various empires and in the greatest civilizations there was a common thread that seems present in all of them. It’s called abundance.  

In one of those ancient societies, there was a philosophy that was generously spread throughout their culture.  The words “there were no poor among them” rang true.  This was true not only in financial means, but in spiritual and educational ways as well. The ideas of fear and scarcity were rejected and replaced with generosity and abundance.   

For example:  there was a farmer who grew excellent fruit in his orchard and every season he won the award for the best grown in his county. One year a reporter from the local newspaper interviewed the farmer and learned that at each harvest the farmer shared his seeds, fruit and all, with his neighbors so that they, too, could plant it in their orchards.

“How can you afford to share your best fruits and ideas with your neighbors when they are entering their produce in the same competition with yours?” the reporter asked.  

“Why that’s very simple,” the farmer explained. “The wind picks up pollen from the developing fruit and carries it from orchard to orchard. If my neighbors grow inferior fruit, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of all the fruit, including mine. If I am to grow good fruit, I must help my neighbors grow good fruit.

The reporter realized how the farmer’s explanation also applied to peoples’ lives in the most fundamental way: those who want to live abundantly, meaningfully, and well must help enrich the lives of others. 

When we focus on being a blessing, abundance is the ultimate divine outcome because the abundance of one’s life is measured by the abundance created in lives that one touches. 

I’m inviting us to study the ideas of abundance.  Since we have some beautiful holidays this month, I’m using the words from a favorite Christmas play I performed in called A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens: “Come in, — come in! and know me better…” says the ghost of Christmas present. Right now and in this season, the gift of an opportunity is the first step toward abundance.  Let’s all take that step and may the blessings of abundance be ours!  Wishing all of you the happiest, most abundant, and meaningful moments during this holiday season and in the coming new year!