Shannon's Story (or The Emptiness of Things)...

So here is the great story I promised from last night. Let me begin by saying that over the past 10 years of student ministry I have had the amazing opportunity of ministering to and with some of the best students on the face of the earth. It is always great to have students that are not only a joy to minister to and work with, but who are also just great people who are a joy to be around and who are trying their best to follow Christ and model his love. Shannon is one of those people.
Last night at our DEEPER Bible Study, Johanna led a discussion about materialism. Her concept was to try and get the girls to see how much they really are blessed and how much others sometimes go without. They talked about materialism and how in the end, "things" leave us empty. Toward the end of the Bible study, Shannon, a senior in our group, told the other girls that she was going home to clean out her closet and put what she had learned into action. About an hour later when some of us were hanging out at the home where the girls Bible study meets, Shannon walks in the door with an enormous garbage bag and says, "Here, Nic. I've got a present for ya!" Up until this point, I had no idea what she was doing or had done, but she told Johanna that she wanted to bring the stuff up to me because I wouldn't think she would do it. To be honest, she was probably right because we had a similar conversation this summer and I am always giving her a hard time about all the shoes she has. She proceded to get a couple of the guys to help her carry in all the rest and when all was said and done she had given me two garbage bags full of shoes and clothes and another three boxes of shoes, all of which she wants donated to a charity that will be able to use these possessions to clothe people in need and share the love of Jesus in a practical way.
Understand this: This was a big deal. Shannon is a shoe-a-holic and I'm sure her collection of shoes and clothes rivals any. But last night, Jesus spoke to her and she responded. In a real and practical way she said yes to the call of Christ. She chose to use her possessions in a way that would honor Jesus and she gave back to him and others out of the over-abundance that she had acquired. She was blessed and she is turning it into a blessing. She chose to give an offering. And in the process she is providing to me and others an example of what it means to being to understand that our meaning is not found in things. When all is said and done in life, it doesn't matter how many new cars you have had, how many houses you own, or how big your bank account is. That is all rubbish, dirt, nothing, in the kingdom of God. When life is done, it doesn't matter how many pairs of stylish shoes you own or how many clothes filled your closet. What matters is how many lives you've impacted with your's for the kingdom of God. What matters is what we have offered to God. Last night, in a very practical way, Shannon chose to impact the kingdom and she gave of what she had as an offering to God. That's what it is all about.