For
the past fifteen years I have been playing a game with
God. When I find or save money--sometimes due to my own
effort or scheming, but more often as the result of some
stroke of good fortune which I enjoy attributing to Him/Her--I
put it in a special account which I call the "Lord's Kitty."
After
all, if I am His, then my money is His also. By putting
money daily into this bonus partnership account, I gain
appreciation for the serendipities of life and feel more
grateful towards the hand of God in my daily doings.
The
car in front of me is hauled over to the curb by the police,
as I freely go by without the speeding ticket I equally
deserve. The grace of God? Whatever,
but there is $75 for the Lord. We are leaving from
the airport and my cousin offers to drive us--a $10 taxi
fare is saved. When I buy items on sale, I note the amount
saved (plus the tax saved.) When I find a parking meter
with time, 25 cents goes into my left pocket, which I
empty at the end of the day. My wife teases, "Why drive
out of your way to buy cheaper gas?" but I'm happy to
make an extra dollar for God's work.
Sometimes
my savings aren't so minor. Years ago, I lost my job with
the federal government and received severance pay. I was
surprised to learn I could also get unemployment benefits.
Two checks from Uncle Sam seemed redundant. I stood in
the unemployment lines anyway, and donated all $9,000
I received to Jubilee Jobs, enabling them to hire a counselor
to help people in the Latino community to find jobs. Now
I receive Social Security and Medicare payments--programs
I support but which were never intended for people like
me--so I give it to the Kitty. When the government cuts
back the rate of taxes for the wealthy, I ask my accountant
to calculate the amount I save, and a sizeable sum goes
to the Bonus account.
On
a monthly basis I tally this special fund and send donations
to aid in God's work. Not counting Social Security, between
$1,000 and $7,000 annually goes through this partnership-with-God
account, over and above what I normally give to charity
(currently 50% of my income). The recipients may wonder
why they get checks in odd amounts--$153.46, or $672.13--but
God knows, and I hope He gives a chuckle. For me, it's
fun gaming with God and passing on His tangible blessings.
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