Excuse my webcam.
So why did I drill a hole through an Oklahoma quarter? Let me tell you the story.
Back in August, I went to a 12-day apologetics conference in Wisconsin. Near the end of the trip, I realized I really needed to do laundry. I took the last 3 dollars I had to my name and made the 5 minute walk to the laundry building. I stuck my quarters in their slots, pushed the lever...and nothing happened. The machine ate my quarters. I tried another machine, and it ate half my quarters. There was no attendant to be found, so I abandoned my clothes. After about 15 more minutes of walking and no more quarters, I made my way to the staff office at our part of the camp. I asked them to turn my last dollar into quarters so I could just do some laundry. One of the staff members, Todd, told me to follow him out to his car. He dug around inside for a bit and pulled out about $1.75 in quarters. When I tried to give him my dollar, he wouldn't take it. He leaned against his car and said, "You know, the first Church was really generous with what they had. If they had something they didn't need, they gave it to someone who needed it. And I just think people should be more like that." I thanked him for the quarters and mulled over the idea. Since he had given me more than I needed, I stuck the extra quarter in my wallet, thinking I'd wait to give it to someone who needs it. From the end of August 'till now, anytime someone has needed spare change, I've given it to them if I could. And somehow, I've always had enough to where I've never had to give away that same quarter Todd gave me. It's always reminded me to be generous where I could. Which reminds me of two of my friends who, ironically, are both in Oklahoma at the time I write this.
Ryan and Clay probably don't look like friendly, loving guys to the typical person, but trust me. These two are pretty rad. I'm lucky enough to consider them brothers. Recently, I was hanging out with Ryan before he left to go visit Clay in OK. He kept offering me things that he didn't have a need for, and his generosity sticks with me every day. Clay is willing to open his home to Ryan and his traveling companion, Scott. Today, I was talking to Ryan about how much money I would need to have to camp with them at Cornerstone this year. Clay told me to give what I could, even if it was nothing, and I'd be taken care of. And the thing is, I know I would be. Those two would make sure I had a place to stay and food in my belly.
So that is why I have an Oklahoma quarter around my neck. Every day, I do and say selfish things, but hopefully seeing this more often will remind me of the generosity of the people around me. One can only hope, right?
-Laura
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