Ungenerous generation
by
Jeff Lucas
Meanness
is ugly. Grabbing is unattractive. Last November’s Black Friday event was dark
indeed, as the retail sector’s excuse for a greed-fuelled shopping frenzy
sparked scuffles and scrums across the country.
Determined
ninja-shoppers jumped queues, elbowed, shoved and even punched each other in
their determined pursuit of alleged bargains. The spirit of Ebenezer Scrooge,
the lead character in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, was alive and
well.
We
don’t have to wrestle with fellow shoppers to qualify as cheap. We’ve all been
around people who are the last in line when it comes to paying. At the coffee
shop, they open the door and insist that you go in first. This is not out of
courtesy, but a tactical manoeuvre to ensure that you get to the counter before
them and are more likely to flash your credit card. Or at the end of a pleasant
meal, their sudden departure to the bathroom is timed precisely to coincide
with the arrival of the bill at the table.
All
of this manipulative meanness not only takes a lot of effort, but actually robs
us of the joy of giving. A recent sociological survey featured in The Paradox
of Generosity (a book written by Christian Smith and Hilary Davidson; OUP USA)
revealed that generosity is very good for us, and not in a televangelist ‘give
and God will make you rich’ way. The research revealed that the more generous
we are the more happiness, health and purpose we enjoy in life. Generosity not
only blesses others; it also warms our own hearts.
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