A Check for $1.80

In my usual flurry to clean the house and grounds before Easter, I packed the recyclables in the Jeep early this morning and vowed to take them to the Center after work. I usually donate my aluminum cans to someone else who takes them in by the truckload for a little spending money. But, today, as I did not feel like unloading a couple of bags on any one's doorstep, I threw them in with the small bag of steel cans and plastic.

Dutifully after work, I pulled into the recycling center and started to sort the skeletons of past grocery shopping. After I finished sorting the bottles and cans, I held the larger bag in my left hand, and watched my right hand reach for the bell to summon someone to come and weigh my aluminum cans. I shrugged when I saw the "$.45' per lb' sign by the window and thought, "Let's see what a couple of bags of aluminum cans are worth. Maybe a cup of coffee?" I swear the lady who raised the garage door to take my cans stifled a laugh, but she took my bags and went to weigh them. Panic set in and I thought, "Oh, just tell her to put them in the donation bin standing a mere six yards away." But no, before I knew it she had announced "4 lbs.!" All reason screamed at me to smile and leave but I thought I was in to deep, so I smiled and went to the window to grab my change and leave. Would I leave a cup of coffee to sit on that ledge? Just quietly take the money and run!

But noooo again! She smirked and wanted to know if I had an account. When I muttered 'No." She asked my name and then sweetly asked, "Who do you want the check made out to ?" Yeah, okay, I lost! I told her to make the check out to me, and then innocently asked what organizations most people donated to. In earnest she read off a litany of organizations and I acknowledged to her that next time I would probably donate my cans to one of those. I drove away from the building with what I thought was my dignity and a check for $1.80.

As I drove home, "I can only imagine" , one of my favorite Christian songs, started to play. The first time through I sang along with reverence. The second time through I extended my right hand, 'opened in prayer' and thought how long it had been since I actually prayed 'as myself'. I was not leading Confirmation students, I was not following the approved script of the Church, and I was not thinking anything. I was harmonizing with God. I was more relaxed and peaceful than I had been in a long, long time. Underneath my outstretched hand, lying on the seat was that check for $1.80. I had earlier been willing to endure ridicule for to collect such a meager payout. Why couldn't I do the same spiritually? Was I exploring all the available spiritual avenues that I could? Or hadn't I because others would ridicule me for a perceived small, insignificant payoff? Whose ledger would accept my true tithe? Knowing the answer, I turned the volume up even louder and practically bellowed the song the third time through. I had quite the good laugh when I was done, especially when the poor gentleman tiling the field across from my house looked up from his work with a quizzical look on his face! Yeah, I saw him, and could have stopped singing, but I wanted him to get all of that $1.80 from my soul. Insignificant to some, but invaluable to others. It just depends where I plan to cash that check!