We are in the season of Lent. Forty days before Easter -not including Sunday. Traditionally, Christians gave up something as a spiritual discipline during Lent. But, then came Thomas Cannon.
Thomas Cannon was a postal worker in Richmond, Virginia. He lived his life on the edge of poverty so that he could give his money to others. Describing himself as “a poor man’s philanthropist,” he gave away more than $150,000 over the last 33 years of his life. He gave to people who were experiencing troubles, or who had been unusually kind or brave. His gifts were mostly in $1000 checks.
Cannon says he was inspired to give his money away when he survived an explosion on a Naval boat, while many of his shipmates were killed. He says God spared him for a reason -to help others and to be a role model in helping others.
His generosity did not come without a sacrifice. He supported his wife, two children and his charitable giving on a salary that never exceeded $20,000 a year.
Cannon and his wife lived simply and near the poverty line, “so we could give money away.” When he died, he left only one simple request: “Help somebody.”
Thomas Cannon is indeed an inspiration. We applaud his sacrifice and his generosity. Yet, what he did is not something most of us are willing to do or can do. Of course, sometimes we think that kind of action is what we should do. We think that God wants us to give up everything. Give our lives away for God. Sometimes special people, like Thomas Cannon, or missionaries to a foreign land, can give up everything.
However, if giving up everything for God is not something you can do, then please, do not feel inadequate. Sometimes we think that being devoted to God means taking out a $1000 bill, laying it on the table, and saying, “Here’s my life, Lord, take it.”
But the reality for most of us is that God sends us to the bank to cash in that $1000 bill for quarters. Because mostly -yes mostly -our lives are made up of handing out quarters. God uses us to hand out quarters, not $1000 bills.
And this is what handing out these quarters look like. Here’s a quarter: listening to a child’s troubles instead of saying, “Get lost. I don’t have time for this.”
Here’s another quarter: serving on a church committee. Another could be taking food to the community food pantry. Still, another could be visiting someone in a nursing home. You see, usually giving our life to Christ isn’t that glamorous or huge. It’s done in little acts of love and care, 25 cents at a time. And you know, 25 cents at a time can make a significant difference in someone’s life. Plus, we can all do it.
Rev. Curtis Fussell