As you read this and the other posts that will follow, I ask one thing of you: I ask that you read these installments with no judgment, putting your opinions and expectations aside. Just read it as a story that is unfolding in ways we don't know. Life is a mystery. Let's let it be that.
~ ~ ~
The story began in late September, 2014. A friend of mine told me that the next time she saw me, she would be giving me some money. She subscribes to the belief that it is important to tithe - as a way of being a part of the flow of abundance. For her, tithing means giving 10% to someone who she feels gives her spiritual food. And for some reason I don't completely understand, she feels that I offer her spiritual food. Very humbling...
When I next saw my friend (I'll call her Amy here), she started to give me some money. Feeling somewhat uncomfortable with this whole thing, I turned my back to her and told her to please put the money in the back pocket of my jeans. Amy doesn't make much money at all, living off of a little Social Security and a small amount of side income. I figured she might be giving me $60 or $80 dollars. I didn't take the money out of my pocket until long after Amy went home.
When I took out the wad of cash, I saw that it was a lot more than $60 or $80. Nowhere close to a thousand, but much more than what I had ever expected. Amy had recently had medical bills for one of her animals, and I knew that this money could have paid a chunk of that. The beautiful trust that was displayed by the giving of this money from someone who needed it brought tears to my eyes.
For me, this money was holy money. Sacred. I didn't want to pay my bills with it. I wanted to help others with it, in ways that were meaningful to me, and hopefully meaningful for the recipients. I thought long and hard on this.
Come back in a few days to read about how my friend Amy came to have enough to tithe a nice amount to me. It's amazing!
