Even though we have witnessed the devastation and destruction caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, we have also seen a nation struggle to respond in a positive and life-giving way.

We watched with horror and a sense of helplessness when nothing was being done for days to relieve the chaos and suffering. As a nation, we have prided ourselves in being able to respond to such tragedies. But this time seemed different.

In the days following Hurricane Katrina, I remember hearing the head of the Salvation Army say, "I don't know how much more our nation can handle and I just don't know how much more generous we can be." This was probably in reference to 9/11, the war in Iraq, the tsunami, and last year's hurricanes in Florida. I was struck by that statement and I thought, "Is there a limit to our generosity?"

Yes, I suppose there is.

When I look at our congregations and how they struggle to make ends meet, there seems to be a limit to the generosity of God's people. When I see how our schools, universities, seminaries, campus ministries, social ministries and other ministries dependent on people's generosity live on the edge financially I wonder what our capacity is? When we in the synod and churchwide offices deal with fewer and fewer resources, I wonder about our people's generosity.

If I look at the fact that we only give away 2% of our income to charity, which is well below the minimum 10% called for in Scripture, I wonder how generous can we be? There seems to be a limit to our generosity.

But when I look to another source, when I look to God, I see unlimited possibilities. God is generous in every way with us. All we have comes from God's loving hands. And it is out of God's generosity in Jesus Christ that we can live as the redeemed people of God in the world. Out of God's generosity then, we can be generous.

Certainly, we have seen that kind of response coming from the people of God. As Lutherans, we were present as early as anyone with disaster relief due to the generosity of our people. Every year ELCA Lutherans give millions of dollars earmarked for disaster relief and so we were already able to respond.

Many from the Indiana-Kentucky Synod have responded these last few weeks, and others will respond in the weeks and months to come by volunteering their time, energy and skills to personally help in relieving the suffering of the people on the Gulf.

We all have been generous in our prayers for these people and the needs that they have. I have to believe that the outpouring of this generosity is directly related to the generosity of God.

We can be compassionate because we know a compassionate God. We can be giving because we have received bountifully from God.

When we are in Christ, I don't see a limit to our generosity. From the heart of God comes all that we need in order to be the loving arms of God reaching out to a suffering world.

The mission statement of the ELCA says it best:

MARKED WITH THE CROSS OF CHRIST FOREVER, WE ARE CALLED, GATHERED AND SENT FOR THE SAKE OF THE WORLD.

By the power of the Spirit, may we trust that promise and live it with our lives.

Yours in Christ, Bishop Jim Stuck