Generosity
Ron Kelsey writes on Radical Generosity:
Through times of war and peace I've often been encouraged through the generosity of others. For instance, during my deployment to Iraq in 2009, I received a copy of Makoto Fujimura's book Refractions. The original letter I wrote IAM from Iraq described how this experience changed my perspective on generosity. After this experience, I was inspired to start a movement affiliated with IAM that would encourage artists and musicians to share the generosity of their gifts with the military.
Toward the end of my deployment to Iraq, IAM generously took the time to mentor and assist me in developing Reflections of Generosity; which was accompanied with this publication shortly thereafter. After two years of organizing nonprofit art exhibits for the military, we now have over fifty artists and musicians from around the world generously sharing their talents. Many IAM artists have also shown their generosity through giving away artwork, music, and books.
Generosity often returns full circle to the giver. After the last RoG exhibit an IAM artist received the following letter:
"Dear Artist,
This evening I had the honor to attend the Reflections of Generosity Art
Exhibit in Ansbach, Germany. It was a very awe inspiring evening, one that I
will not forget. During the course of the evening I always seemed to be
drawn to your paintings, they are beautiful. Thank you for your work and
dedication, it is very much appreciated.
When I got home I was so happy and surprised to find that the little vibrant
watercolor painting in the cd case, that I was also drawn to, is one of your
pieces, "Loving Joy". After this experience I know there is good in this
world, more than there is evil and I am very hopeful for the future.
In times of war, as in times of peace, art can facilitate healing and restoration. Such generosity insulates people from the tragedies that seek to overwhelm their daily lives. In times of grief, it is never too late to experience hope, which can be generously shared and passed on to those who need it the most."
Through times of war and peace I've often been encouraged through the generosity of others. For instance, during my deployment to Iraq in 2009, I received a copy of Makoto Fujimura's book Refractions. The original letter I wrote IAM from Iraq described how this experience changed my perspective on generosity. After this experience, I was inspired to start a movement affiliated with IAM that would encourage artists and musicians to share the generosity of their gifts with the military.
Toward the end of my deployment to Iraq, IAM generously took the time to mentor and assist me in developing Reflections of Generosity; which was accompanied with this publication shortly thereafter. After two years of organizing nonprofit art exhibits for the military, we now have over fifty artists and musicians from around the world generously sharing their talents. Many IAM artists have also shown their generosity through giving away artwork, music, and books.
Generosity often returns full circle to the giver. After the last RoG exhibit an IAM artist received the following letter:
"Dear Artist,
This evening I had the honor to attend the Reflections of Generosity Art
Exhibit in Ansbach, Germany. It was a very awe inspiring evening, one that I
will not forget. During the course of the evening I always seemed to be
drawn to your paintings, they are beautiful. Thank you for your work and
dedication, it is very much appreciated.
When I got home I was so happy and surprised to find that the little vibrant
watercolor painting in the cd case, that I was also drawn to, is one of your
pieces, "Loving Joy". After this experience I know there is good in this
world, more than there is evil and I am very hopeful for the future.
In times of war, as in times of peace, art can facilitate healing and restoration. Such generosity insulates people from the tragedies that seek to overwhelm their daily lives. In times of grief, it is never too late to experience hope, which can be generously shared and passed on to those who need it the most."