When I think of being generous, I think of what I give to others. I'm generous when I give money to a charity. I'm generous when I volunteer at the local food pantry. I'm generous in offering my time to maintain the website of my Franciscan fraternity.

And when I think about generosity, the honest truth is that I'm not free in my generosity. I give because I feel like I have to. I'm generous not out of love but out of a sense of responsibility.

Not that responsibility is a bad thing. But responsibility is not love. Love can be reckless. The Suscipe, one of St. Ignatius's most famous prayers, describes the reckless way in which he abandoned himself to God:

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.

You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.

Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.

I wonder if that's how I am with God. Or am I more responsible than I am reckless?

Center yourself for a few moments by breathing in God's love and breathing our God's grace. Recall that everything is gift, even your breath.

Think of the many gifts and blessings you've received. These gifts and blessings are the things that help you express your true self, the person God created you to be. Spend a few moments with each gift, appreciating it not for what it has allowed you to do or accomplish, but simply for being what it is. Then say:

Take, Lord, and receive (name the gift). You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Give me only your love. That is enough.

Imagine giving this thing away. You may want to make a gesture as if your were offering to God.

Continue this prayer for each gift you can think of. Close by praying the Suscipe.