Living Generously

Wherever we have lived, we have contributed time and treasure to institutions we believed made our communities better. We have many communities, but one focus: youth and education.

Rusty’s enthusiasm for giving is palpable. “Don’t be a hoarder!” he says in his affable Texas drawl. “Only five percent of Christians shed the light!” He heard this “don’t be a hoarder” comment from a minister while working together in the prison ministry in Austin and has adopted the phrase as another way of saying, “live generously.”

“This was a great time, like coming home again – a great meeting with old friends and making new ones,” says alumnus Don Gregory. “I saw firsthand how well the horse program has been improved and upgraded. It was a pleasure to ride up the mountain, after about 30 years. There was lots of renewal of amazing feelings and inspiration unique to the A/U Ranches in that beautiful, familiar setting in the Colorado Rockies.”

Jeni and I took a few minutes recently to ask ourselves what it has meant to be able to give our time, treasure and talent to Adventure Unlimited – what is it that got us going, kept us going and has us excited for this year of service to the organization?

#3: Volunteer. Make a difference for a young person’s spiritual growth in a DiscoveryBound program or at the A/U Ranches as a bunkhouse parent. Want to get away? Help us get ready for Youth Camp at Memorial Day Service Weekend.

Living generously is what camp is all about. In so many ways, camp opens the door (or window) to a view of life that is focused on the other, on giving. I remember during my first years on staff, this passage from Mrs. Eddy becoming my guiding focus, “…blessed is that man who seeth his brother’s need and supplieth it, seeking his own in another’s good.” (S&H 518:17-19) I loved the opportunity to serve that camp offered and continues offering today.

My involvement with Adventure Unlimited started in the early 1960s, when Cap Andrews asked if I would help start a mountaineering program. John Andrews Jr. and I started the program the next summer.

I love talking, thinking and putting into practice generous living. I love it so much I decided to incorporate it into my job so that I could learn more about it and experience it more often. I even started an advisor book club at work focusing on philanthropy so I could keep learning. It makes me happy, it gives me a sense of purpose and I feel fulfilled…

I enjoy taking a few moments to reflect with gratitude on all the incredible experiences and privileges I have experienced since getting that special phone call in 1965. It was from Cap Andrews…