“Abundance does not spread; famine does.”

— Zulu Proverb

We just returned from a week’s vacation, and the first thing we have had to do is deal with our abundance.  We have so many things to unpack — so many clothes to wash and dry, suitcases to put away, electronics to stow.  We have treasured things we took with us and new things we accumulated as souvenirs of our trip.  We have a lawn to mow, pear trees to pick, and a garden that looks like a tropical rainforest.  It is really tempting to feel as though we are burdened by all these things, especially when we are tired; but the truth is that we are incredibly blessed.  We have come home to abundance, and we must not take that lightly.  With abundance comes responsibility; and each year at this time, we are compelled to spread abundance and see that nothing goes to waste.

How sad the Zulu proverb is — that famine spreads but abundance does not.  How sad that we become so caught up in owning the gifts of abundance that we feel the need to hoard it all for ourselves rather than letting it overflow and benefit others as well.  I look at my vegetable garden, fenced against the bunnies and the groundhog who would make short work of all that grows there, and I wonder whether building that fence has created in me a sense of ownership for the food that grows there and magically appears each night on the plants I tend.  I want the fence to protect my crop, but I don’t want to find myself using it to keep the bounty all to myself.  One thing that my years of gardening have taught me is that abundance that is not shared soon will rot on the vine and ruin the garden.

Look around your world today and see the abundant blessings that are part of your life.  Then look again, and see that you are blessed with an abundance of neighbors who might also enjoy the fruits of your labors.  Take down the fence that contains the abundance and let it flow out to all who might need it.  Be sure that nothing goes to waste.  What is extra for you just might feed someone who is hungry.  Let’s prove the Zulu proverb wrong and begin today to spread abundance.  There is no excuse for famine in the world we all should share.