Our Treasures and Us: A Time for Reflection

When this article appears, it will be either at the end of the season of Epiphany or at the beginning of Lent. Lent is that time of year when reflection on our own journey is a critical part of the process.

However, for many of us, there is also a time when we have to begin the process of preparing to file our income tax return. True, we do not respond to a tax collector like St. Matthew was before his conversion, but we do have to at least get ready to complete our tax returns or gather the information for whoever will finally prepare our returns. This means, among other things, putting together receipts from our giving to the Church and other charities so that what we owe will be less. In order to claim the benefits of any of these gifts, we must have receipts in case the Canada Revenue Agency eventually asks to see them.

It is time, I suggest, to examine exactly what we have done with our treasures. So, in addition to reviewing our receipts, we should also ask what will happen when we die.

Let’s deal with our treasures as we go on this journey of life. What was the income we are reporting? What did we do with it to assist the church, charities, health care facilities or education? We can all give something. Recall the story in the gospel of the widow who gave all she could. I suggest it is the perfect time to sit down and prayerfully decide what you should give to the church and charities. It is a simple act to draw up a sheet of how much you can give, and to whom, obviously taking into account what your income is. This will assist all of us in carefully deciding how and when we should donate.

There is, however, something else we should consider. What happens when we die? What will happen to what we have, and should we benefit our church or some charity that has made a difference?

There is only one way to do this: have a will and keep it current. If we die without a will, all provinces have passed laws that will arbitrarily divide our property among our surviving family. Without a will, there can be no gifts to the church or charities, but the spouse you left long ago may get a sizeable chunk.

So you need a will. When I was in law school, one of my professors told us to tell future clients simply to do their own will or hire a non-lawyer to prepare it for them. The reason this professor said this was simple. Some lawyers will make more money clearing up an estate than preparing a will.

You may complain about the cost. The cost will vary depending on the size and complexity of your estate. It will be money well spent. It will also be important to regularly update the will.

Let me share some stories.

Recently, the superior court in Nova Scotia heard a case involving a large bequest by a widow to “Anglican parish A”. By the time the woman died, parish A no longer existed. Parish A had merged with another “Anglican parish B”, but the will had not been changed. Fortunately, the trustees and the lawyers they hired convinced the judge that the widow wanted the gift to go to the new combined parish. Unfortunately, this procedure cost money and meant there was less for the parish.

Recently, a parish in this diocese received a gift of $150,000 in a well-drafted will. The gift was to be used at the discretion of the wardens. Too often, bequests to churches can have awkward restrictions. This wise gift enabled the parish to sponsor a family of six from Afghanistan, replace all their aging windows, and still have a nice cushion for the future.

So please take some time to examine your resources. What can you donate now to the Church and some charities you wish to assist? Then consider what you want your will to say, and please consult a lawyer to make sure it will happen. These can be simple acts of kindness that will make a difference.