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I am not sure why I responded to Chuck’s request for ten volunteers that morning in the early service. Maybe it was my respect for him, maybe it was an impulse. Whatever the reason, I suddenly found myself standing with others who had done the same. The next thing I knew I was holding a crisp 100 dollar bill, and I was told that this was God’s money, not Chuck’s, not the church’s, and not mine. I was told to pray, to listen to what God wanted me to do with it. I heard Chuck charge the congregation to pray also. I heard someone say, “Now, what?” Now what indeed. To me, 100 dollars is still a lot of money, and it wasn’t mine. I was the steward of it, and I knew what happened with this money would be public. Part of me wanted to bury the money, like the guy in the parable. I like money, but I don’t like handling it. I don’t like managing it. I would rather store it, or spend it. Money is a form of energy, and like gold, it can make people a little crazy. Even a hundred dollars.
In a couple of days I had come up with an idea. I thought it was a good enough plan, and it would have been. But God had other plans. A few days later, while talking with the receptionist in my office about how her sister was coming along with her cancer treatment, and how the family was struggling to help pay for the infusion, it was like God laid my assignment before me. I didn’t hear a voice, or see a vision, I just knew. I contacted certain people in my life, family and friends, who had made an impact upon me in some way. Sadly some of the most important ones were no longer with me. I told them of my assignment, of God’s plan for this money. Then I waited, like a little kid who has planted a small garden. I worried that it wasn’t a good time of the year. Christmas was coming. Would people be able to participate? Would they be offended, thinking I was trying to exploit my relationship with them? I waited. All around me I heard of other wonderful projects going on. People were excited. I was nervous. It also made me realize on a very personal level that there are many people who work hard every day who don’t have enough insurance or money to pay for catastrophic illness. I think we must do something about this.
We were able to write a check for this person for 685.00. Her family tells me this will go along way to helping them with some of the medical costs she is facing. I thought I knew how my participants would respond. I believe they prayed. I believe you prayed. I know I prayed. What I have learned from the experience is that alone I can do some things, with family and friends I can do a lot, and with God’s blessing, the sky is the limit. Thank you, and thanks be to God.
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