One of the things I love most about being in a Common Change group is that I feel like a Secret Santa every day. It is so much fun to know that I have a pool of money to be spent on nothing except blessing people. And the fact that it is often a surprising, unexpected blessing is icing on the cake.

What I have come to realize, though, is that I’ve been missing so many needs and so many blessings, just from being unaware. I was recently asked to speak to a group of young seminarians about Common Change. I jumped at the chance to share this great idea with them.

What I almost missed was that they needed more than to be told about Common Change.They needed to experience Common Change.

I was so focused on my own presentation that I almost missed the most important element – the element of relationship. I almost forgot that I was not just an outsider bringing a new tool to their toolbox; I was a fellow Christian journeying alongside them. It was not until I began praying for them, that my eyes opened.

Suddenly I realized that these were starving grad students, struggling under a heavy workload, many with a load of student debt — and all for the purpose of devoting their lives to service in my community.

I realized I needed to do more than tell them about Common Change.

I brought their need to the attention of my Common Change group. It was a slam-dunk. Unanimous. So when I walked in to do my presentation, I brought with me a small gift for each of the students. The reaction was overwhelming. I still tear up when I think about the gratitude and, well, the very presence of God that I experienced as each student accepted their gift.

I was as blessed as they were!

Now I have added a new place to “look” for needs — my prayer list. It really never occurred to me before that the people I am praying for are likely to be people who could use some encouragement or help from Common Change. Now I will be looking at my prayer list with new eyes, for I know now that I will find hidden blessings.

[Gayle Evers, ‘Heart of Texas’ Common Change group]