[Magdalen] Loaned out

[Lynn Ronkainen]

Scott, this is not a judgmental remark but an observation - money that 
starts as a loan and is taken advantage of by the borrower, is not really 
ever viewed as a gift by either party unless there is grace in the equation, 
in my experience... M's suggestion is a possible solution in this current 
situation you describe as it will in essence 'give' the borrower the $500. 
he now desires (by essentially  'canceling' his debt)

IMO, money given freely is received in a different way than most loans. 
Loans 'cancelled' have a variety of results including possible gratitude, 
but none matching the former concept of money 'given' outright with stated 
expectations that it is a 'gift'. The benefits for the giver and the 
recipient in the money giving scenario might possibly be life changing for 
both of them in a positive way.  OTOH, also IMO,  a person who remains in 
debt, who has been excused or ignored for repayment may be affected in many 
ways that may not be helpful for them in the long run. In other words, with 
no closure of any kind it has never been resolved.

Your remark about how you 'let repayment happen or not' possibly sets you up 
as a 'mark'. You might reconsider your premise of how you look at Christian 
charity, and how that interacts with how you are 'doing it' and discuss it 
with a person of faith who is not part of your group of friends and 
religious associates.

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 10:26 AM
To: "Magdalen at herberthouse.org" <magdalen at herberthouse.org>
Subject: Re: [Magdalen] Loaned out

> Well, many of my loans are indeed gifts. The borrower names some
> scheme of repayment but I just let repayment happen or not.
>
> On Wed, Sep 9, 2015 at 10:22 AM, ME Michaud <michaudme at gmail.com> wrote:
>> I'm very tough about this.
>> I give money. I never lend.
>> Some people pay back, most don't. But it's uncomplicated by that
>> expectation.
>>
>> As you can imagine, I don't give much because I can't. I don't think I've
>> ever given anyone more than a thousand dollars.
>> It works for me/us.
>> -M
>>
>> PS: Jesus didn't tell us to lend money IIRC
>>
>>
>> On Wednesday, September 9, 2015, Judy Fleener <fleenerj at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> > 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
>>>
>
>
>
> -- 
> Scott R. Knitter
> Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois USA