Meet-a-Need

I was able to participate in a pretty neat experience tonight. The ministry I’m involved with here on campus, Christian Student Fellowship, has a girls and guys Bible study on Tuesday nights. An alumni of the ministry donated $100 to each study to “meet a need.” Any need that we see fit. The girls decided to break up the amount into 20’s and go to the Locust Street IGA to help people pay for their groceries. Enthusiasm filled the van, to say the least.

After spending some time in prayer, we entered the store in pairs and practiced some nonchalant stalking. My partner, Erin, and I decided to approach a woman who’s name was Marita, as we found out. Saying we were from a campus ministry and had some extra money to give away, she was skeptical, but obliged. We asked how we could be praying for her, which she also seemed surprised to hear. All of the girls’ stories were a bit different, and it was so interesting to listen to each other and share our thoughts.

A few things stuck out to me about this experience. First, most everyone we talked to exhibited some form of skepticism: why would random strangers want to pay for their groceries? But then that got me thinking…what if we lived in a world where generosity was not questioned, where acts of giving and financial assistance were commonplace? The idealist emerges again…

Also, I felt no personal loss giving that money away because it wasn’t mine to begin with. But what if it was? Would I have been as generous? Seeing Marita and hearing the other girls’ stories made money–the oil to our machine of a nation–seem so small. So irrelevant compared to the gift of helping another person. Good lessons to keep in mind as I continue to make the green. Even Jesus didn’t help everyone he came in contact with, but being aware of the need is a good place to start.

Not in any relation to this post, here is an irresistibly-cute picture of two of my favorite boys enjoying Easter outside..

:)