Slow Havamal: 52

[kylec]

In the 52nd verse, we see that not all gifts need to be large. Something as small as half a load of bread and a little soup can win a friend.

Past verses have already established the importance of mutual gift giving among friends. Now we step outside the notions of great swords, horses, ships, and jewels to find that not all gifts have to be magnificent. Those things go over well if we can spare them, but for most of us, they remain beyond our means. Odin encourages us to keep a flexible imagination and draw from the resources we have. Or, to put it another way, it’s the thought that counts.

That thought is an understanding of what function gifts and giving serve. I find it useful to think of a gift as stored energy. Whatever changes hands holds the energy that went into producing and refining the raw materials, and fashioning them into something useful. A sword contains the labor of the miner and the blacksmith, and the geological processes that concentrated the iron ore. Because of these efforts, the sword can make better use of the wielder’s own energy. It will cleave a man in half a lot easier than a disposable plastic knife, or a persistent fingernail. So a gift is something that gives energy, or spares it.

This verse uses the example of half a loaf of bread and a bowl of soup. Humble as it may be, that’s a literal exchange of energy. It suggests hospitality, which Havamal is high on. A weary traveler may like a new hat or a gold ring, but feeding him shows a more sensitive evaluation of his condition. We aren’t just throwing random stuff at a person. We’re looking, listening, and meeting a specific need. The portion size is key: half a loaf implies that the giver may have split their meal down the middle. A friend is won not only because of the gift that takes into account the context of their meeting, but the fact that they’re treated as an equal. Monetary value takes a backseat to sacrifice and necessity.

While a little food may be cheap, there are few things more valuable in the world of Havamal than a true friend. We don’t share a meal expecting to be rewarded with a lifelong companion. Often, small gifts are held in small esteem. But a critical component of the giving equation is looking beyond the present, and beyond mere transaction. I may not share if I’m hungry, but will half a plate starve me? The generous man prefers to uphold his character. He may not expect anything in return from this person, but he knows he reaps what he sows.

We may balk at giving because we think we have too little. This verse invites us to consider even the smallest act of generosity. Thinking in terms of bread alone obscures the point. What a person may need is an extra hand, a worn paperback, a spare ticket, a smile and friendly greeting. We will only know if we take a good look at the person and the context. It isn’t the gift, but the right gift at the right time that demonstrates we care.