I stopped by Mitch and Marty's Citgo on Wednesday to get some gas.

"Fill 'er up?" Marty asked.

"Not today," I replied. "Just give me $75 worth."

Ouch. I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to afford to drive. Suddenly, the disease called economic recession seems to have infected our nation. What should we do?

The federal government is hoping that a little shot in the economic arm is what we need to get healthy again. They call it an "economic stimulus plan," and it involves sending a check to almost every taxpayer.

Congratulations! You're going to be $300, $600, maybe even $1,200 richer! We are then asked to do our patriotic duty by getting out to the stores and spending it. Forget about stuffing it in the bank or paying off bills. Neither of those seemingly reasonable plans will do as much to stimulate the economy as going out and buying that new HDTV.

Unfortunately, many of us could spend our check on gas and groceries with no problem at all. And then it will be gone. I don't think this money is going to be enough to help someone who has lost their job or their home or both.

There is a way, however, that these checks could have a lasting impact not only on our economy, but also on ourselves and our world. It's what the bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America call a "spiritual stimulus plan."

Here is how it works. What if all of us, as soon as we receive our checks, give 10 percent of the money to some group working to end poverty?

In theory, this shouldn't be hard at all. It's giving away a piece of something that we didn't even know we had. Somehow, we are getting by without this money right now.

In reality, giving this money away will be difficult. Some of us have already spent the money, at least in our minds. Many others could give at least 10 reasons why they "need" the money for themselves.

There's the leaky roof, credit card bills, new tires for the car, a wedding gift. I'm not saying that any of these are bad. But even if we were billionaires, this list would still be there.

That's why how you decide to spend this money is a spiritual problem, in need of a spiritual stimulus plan. You don't have to be religious to be

generous.

What if everyone in Racine County gave away 10 percent of their checks? What if family members worked together to decide where their gift would go? Think of the possibilities right around you: the YMCA; United Way; Cops 'N Kids; Habitat for Humanity; your own congregation?

People who lived through the Depression are fond of saying "We were poor, but we didn't know we were poor." Before you spend your check, remember that, at least for a moment, we are rich but we didn't even know it.

The 10 percent amount, or tithe, is a traditional amount of offering to give to God in thanksgiving for all the blessings of life. The trick is to give the first 10 percent, not the last.

I remember giving 10 M&M's to each of two children. I then asked one child if she would share one with me. She gave me one right away. We continued to chat, as they ate their candy.

When the second child had only one piece left, I asked if he would share that one with me. His eyes got very wide as he clutched his very last piece in his hand.

The second child wasn't more selfish than the first. It's just harder to give the last one away.

So if you receive a check in the mail for $600, I'm challenging you to give $60 away. Right away. Three things will happen. First, you'll have $540 that you didn't have before to spend in any way you'd like.

Second, that $60 will do more good than you can imagine.

Third, you will experience a feeling inside (perhaps familiar, perhaps new to you) that comes when you give without expecting anything in return. Give it a try. I dare you.

I would love to hear from those of you who take this challenge. I'll write up some of our stories for a future column. Contact me at pastorwalter@yahoo.com, or write to me (I'm in the phone book).

The Rev. Walter Hermanns leads worship services at several Lincoln Lutheran facilities, and assists with youth outreach programs at Emmaus Lutheran Church.