Bartering

I met a lovely lady on the Internet who, through numerous shared emails, became a friend.Upon finding out we shared many common interests, one day she offered to send me an item that she knew I would enjoy. Mind you, it wasn't a store-bought gift, but something from her own home.  As I was deeply touched by this woman's generosity and kindness, I returned the favor by sending her something from my kitchen as well; an herbal tea sampler of several bulk teas which I though she might like. More emails in to our friendship and we discovered we both find benefit in listening to motivational and spiritual CD's and tape cassettes. She has some titles that I don't have, and visa versa, so we will be trading these. I will be able to listen to hers, sending them back when I am done, and she will do the same with mine.

Recently, while considering our unique sharing and caring long-distance relationship, my mind drifted back to a time when trading, otherwise known as bartering, was a common, even necessary practice. Rather than individual families go out and buy all their life-sustaining goods from a retail store, people traded the bounty of their harvests and exchanged a basket of eggs for a bushel of apples, or 5 egg laying chickens for a milk-producing cow.

While I am glad to be living in a day and age when we have outstanding medical and other advancements, I cannot help but wonder if our society has lost something very important by what appears to be no longer needing one another. I never really thought about this topic until I more fully and personally experiencedthe joys of giving and receiving without the exchanging of money. Sure, we give and receive presents on birthdays and holidays, but as I said, true bartering or trading was or is not considered a gift, but a necessity or at minimum, a way of life.

Imagine, for a moment, what your life would be like if all the neighbors in your community began to reach out of themself, and began to fill their hearts with the spirit of generosity. No longer would our hearts and lives be secluded; relying only our ourself, but we would learn to ask for help, and be willing to offer our own assitance when able. Digging a garden but don't have a shovel, and can't afford to go out and buy one? Why not ask a neighbor to borrow his for the day? Return his favor by blessing his family with the fruits of your harvest once your garden has blossomed!

I guarantee you that my own day to day life has taken on a new flavor, and I will be making more conscious efforts to see how I may be of service to my fellow man. It may take a while for its sentiment and spirit of selfless giving to catch on, but goodness is always repaid and multiplied in one form or another.

Today, while you are considering reaching out to your fellow man, won't you also think about calling out to God? Your life will be positively changed!

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Contributed by Melanie Schurr (Copyright (c)2003 Melanie Schurr) Melanie Schurr is author of "Ecstatic Living Ecstatic Loving: How to have more peace and joy in marriage, and life in general by walking in harmony with God," and "Son Salutations: A refreshing collection of modern inspirations for those who seek God each day." For more information, visit her web page at www.angelfire.com/mi/melschurr