Yesterday, I finally did it. Shortly after moving to Chicago in October, I started attending church at a congregation near my apartment. It is very near. My average Sunday-morning commute is 3 minutes — on foot. Maybe the path to church was too easy. Most Sundays, I did not have to think ahead and prepare for how to get there or what to bring. Consequently, every Sunday, I found myself sitting in the sanctuary without cash or a check. So, when the offering plate came, I did not have a way to give. And, every Sunday, I thought, “I’ve been meaning to make my offering through the congregation’s website.” Then, yesterday, I went to the church website and signed up to make a monthly donation that will be automatically deducted from my bank account. This simple action took all of 5 minutes. Finally, I turned “I’ve been meaning to” into “I did.”
I should really stop using this phrase – “I’ve been meaning to.” Do you know it? As in, I’ve been meaning to call a friend, send an email, start praying more often, give to the church. After all, my faith does not call me to intend to act. My faith calls me to act. Either I did give to my church or I did not give to my church.
I’m excited about my monthly donation to the church. I am excited because, by taking this step, I am beginning the process of becoming a person who gives money to her congregation. No matter what I have intended, until yesterday, that was not me.
This is adapted from “The end of ‘I’ve been meaning to,'” a blog post written by Emma Crossen that first was published on the Women of the ELCA blog on April 26, 2012.