The unexpected acts of giving

Good deeds are nourishment for the Soul, it is what makes a person a good person inside and out. But there are times, for reasons known only to God, God whispers to us in a faint voice to do Him a favor or commands us to do something in times we are not ready, but the reward is unmeasurable. This is what religious life is all about. God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son as a burnt offering. God did this not as a test, but did it to build Abraham’s trust in Him, and to solidify Abraham’s faith. This is the way God wanted us to build trust and personal relationships with Him. And for this, God at times asks us to sacrifice our Isaac, things that are dear to our heart. Just to give you a simple example of an experience I had while on my spiritual training with CARP MFT, It is as follows…

Approximately three years after I joined the Unification movement, I was on a door-to-door fundraising team, which was part of the Unification Movement spiritual training. We had no money of our own apart from a few dollars to buy a soda drink.

It was about 9:00 am and as soon as I was dropped off in my fundraising area, I spotted a Dunkin Donuts standing two blocks away. I love Dunkin Donuts and love the Apple fritters. Right away my body screamed, “I want an apple fritter!” So, I obeyed and headed straight for the place. As I got in, I checked my money and all I had was about $2 and some change, barely enough to buy me a cup of coffee and my favorite apple fritter. After I got my order, I walked out of the store fast and made a sharp turn to the right, and about half a block away I noticed what looked like a homeless man lying on the pavement and had crutches beside him.

As I passed the man, a faint voice within me said, “Give the coffee and the apple fritters to this man.” At first, I hesitated for a few seconds and tried to ignore the voice. I didn’t want to give away my favorite Apple Fritter and coffee and I spent all the little money I had to buy them, but my heart said yes. I turned around and walked back to the man and handed him the coffee and the apple fritter. And I can’t describe the feeling.

As soon as I gave the man, suddenly the man leaped on his feet and gave me the strongest hug I ever received. I can’t describe the feeling. It was like a bolt of love and joy surged from him through me. The man kept hugging me and thanking me and saying, over and over “God Bless you! God Bless you! His eyes pierced through my eyes. I can’t describe it. It was like touch and hug from God. This was an amazing experience that was engraved in my heart and mind forever, even now after 40 years, as I write about it, I got goosebumps.

The lesson I learned from this experience is that it is always good to give and be good to people. But at times God promptly asks us to do something when we are least ready. Like this experience with the homeless man. Sometimes when I am driving and I come to a stop where a street beggar is standing, the voice asks me to give. “Give this person $5, give this person $20” and if I give less, I feel guilty all day.