It’s About People
Well, it’s almost Tuesday in my neck of the woods. I’m really late getting my Monday post together. I try to stay on schedule when writing but today just got away from me. I actually took a day off for a change and focused on getting some things done. My mother in law flew in from St. Louis to spend a few days with us. We went to lunch, I washed cars, washed off the patio furniture, did some lawn work, ran some honey do errands, and then took out the trash. I’m beat!
Along the way, some church folks checked in. It was nice hearing some good things from them. Yesterday, we had an awesome time of worship and then last night, we decided to meet in the local city park for a dinner and time of relaxation. One of our families brought a fryer and made hot wings! Others brought chicken, potato salad, killer salsa, beans, fruit, you name it! What a great time for friends to gather.
I was taking one of our elderly ladies back to her car in a wheelchair as the night drew to a close and as we neared her car, she stated: “This is what a church is all about! What a wonderful, wonderful evening.” Others hugged me as they left. Still others stayed late as our kids played. My wife and I were the last ones out. She and the ladies planned this. It was nothing I had done to pull this off other than to bring food. I came home, sat outside on my porch, and began to pray. God has shown me the greatest of blessings in the smallest of things. At it’s very heart, community is what the church is all about. People getting together to share life. People who’s hearts are being changed by the very real presence of the Holy Spirit. LIFE CHANGE. For some of these folks, gatherings like this were unimaginable a few years ago. Now, they look forward to each time we gather. Some are having financial troubles, others are having relationship problems, still others are watching to see if we really mean it when we say we care for and love one another. They are looking for authenticity. It’s something not every church has. It can be faked, but when it’s real, you know it. We’re not the biggest church. We don’t have the best kids ministry. We do not have a full praise band (yet), and we’re not overflowing with riches (at least the financial kind). What we do have is love. Care for one another. It’s real and I can’t imagine being anywhere but here.
I’m a blessed man!
