[Magdalen] Loaned out

[Lynn Ronkainen]

Difficult position Scott. When I have lent money, I do not 'repeat lend' 
until the first debt has been fulfilled. The way I look at this, is that I 
am  not adding to the person's dilemma by facilitating them going into 
further debt, regardless the source of the loan. I believe this is also part 
of the responsibility to others aspect of what you have written about. I do 
not consider it to be my personal judgment against the person's inability to 
repay.

Our Christian responsibility falls short of the life decisions of St. 
Francis, I believe. His was an extreme act of charity. In that I mean, we 
are not all called in that way. What we can do for others takes many 
different paths, only one of which would be loaning/giving money. I believe 
we are also called to be good stewards of what we are capable of giving 
away, and how we do so.

peace
Lynn


website: www.ichthysdesigns.com

When I stand before God at the end of my life I would hope that I have not a 
single bit of talent left and could say, "I used everything You gave me." 
attributed to Erma Bombeck
 "Either Freedom for all or stop talking about Freedom at all" from a talk 
by Richard Rohr

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Scott Knitter" <scottknitter at gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2015 10:20 AM
To: "Magdalen at herberthouse.org" <magdalen at herberthouse.org>
Subject: Re: [Magdalen] Loaned out

> Well, my requestor just asked what about 500 instead of a thousand? So
> saying no once is unacceptable; I have to say no yet again or just do
> it. I'm inclined to just do it as this eats me up and I need to get on
> with my actual work and other demands. Lord, have mercy.
>
> On Wed, Sep 9, 2015 at 10:17 AM, Scott Knitter <scottknitter at gmail.com> 
> wrote:
>> Thanks, Judy.
>>
>> What about all the articles one sees from time to time taking fellow
>> Christians to task for saying no to those who ask, and for walking
>> past those requesting money in the street without stopping to make eye
>> contact, speak and spend time with them, and give them what they ask
>> for? Some of those articles really beat everyone over the head, and I
>> think about them for a long time. Usually Mother Theresa is quoted to
>> make the point we're called to give always and to trust. I'm not sure
>> I'm capable, mea culpa.
>>
>> Give always seems antithetical to being responsible (and effective in
>> the Kingdom here on earth in use of earthly resources). I struggle
>> with this constantly, especially as I imagine what life here in
>> Chicago would be like if I never ignored anyone.
>>
>> On Wed, Sep 9, 2015 at 10:12 AM, Judy Fleener <fleenerj at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> You were generous in lending in the first place.  We are in a difficult
>>> financial position, one we probably won't live long enough to escape,
>>> because we rescued some of our children.  We also made some bad spending
>>> choices.  Think about your future, Scott.
>>> from an old lady, Judy
>>>
>>> On Wed, Sep 9, 2015 at 10:42 AM, Scott Knitter <scottknitter at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I seem to be the focus of requests to borrow money this year. Now I 
>>>> feel
>>>> loaned out and overspent, and sure enough, this morning there's a 
>>>> request
>>>> from a former colleague not only for a delay in repaying me but also 
>>>> for
>>>> doubling of what I've lent him. I wonder what's going on all of a 
>>>> sudden.
>>>> I'm going to say no, despite our call as Christians always to give and 
>>>> in
>>>> fact never to ignore any of the many people one encounters daily who 
>>>> ask
>>>> for money but to give each of them full attention and time as well as 
>>>> what
>>>> they ask for. I'm a little freaked out about having to turn him down 
>>>> and of
>>>> course he'll be in sad straits partly because of my insufficient
>>>> generosity.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Judy Fleener, ObJN
>>> Western Michigan
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Scott R. Knitter
>> Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois USA
>
>
>
> -- 
> Scott R. Knitter
> Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois USA