A Test

The phone rang, so I picked it up.

It was my friend Zach, who works at a local camera store and had someone looking for a Canon XH-A1, who was willing to spend $4k. I had wanted to sell my XH-A1 for $4k, and Zach was holding my information for anyone that happened to pop by in search of one.

He asked me what I wanted to do. If you've read my previous two blog posts, you know that God took me on a journey, from being willing to give the money I made from the sale to the church, to flat out giving the church my camera. But I hadn't made the trip to the church to hand it off just yet, as it was Thanksgiving week.

I thought for a second. Should I sell and give the money to the church? I remembered what Doug said, "If you sell your camera, the church will have to replace your camera anyway." (Due to the fact that I use my own gear for the church as well.) So that wouldn't work.

Then the thought hit. $4,000 is $1,000 off from having enough money to buy the body of a Canon 1DmkIV.

Boom. That was it. It was a test.

"No, Zach," I said, "I'm gonna give my camera to the church."

He understood and let me go.

I sat down, picked up my Bible (as I was in the middle of studying The Gospel of John), and I felt God stop me and say, "You just turned down a near certain $4,000, son."

"I know, I did it willingly," I replied aloud.

I could sense the distant sting of regret, but I was so removed from my flesh in that moment, I could barely feel it.

"I trust You, God, to give me more than I've asked for. I don't have to make this happen," I said in my heart. "Though," I followed up, "I really do want a Canon 1DmkIV."

I'm pretty sure I heard a chuckle and felt a pat on the shoulder at that point.

And that was it.