Category: Community

I work in the front office of an elementary school and this week is our last week before the summer break. The office is busy on any given week, but to say that this week is packed full of events all week long, is an understatement. It seems like we can’t go more than ten minutes without something new popping up in the office.

And the busyness begins first thing in the morning, from parents who bring in an array of items left at home, from lunchboxes to homework, to phone calls from parents looking for a bus that they swear they were not late getting out for, or this week, calls from parents asking about events that those of us in the front office didn’t even know about.

People rarely pop in, in the morning just to say hello. If they come in, they usually want or need something.

But, yesterday, my sweet friend from choir, who also happens to be my pastor’s wife, popped in to say hello. She’s a long term sub until the end of the year and a retired teacher. She told me she just had to come in and tell me a little bit about her weekend.

Her granddaughter had turned sixteen and the family had a party for her. My friend decided to take the cornhole game that my family had made for her and her husband several years earlier. She said she thought they might enjoy it. Well, apparently it was a huge hit. Her eyes danced with joy as she talked about how much fun the family had playing that game and she gave me a hug and thanked me again for giving it to them.

I don’t know what prompted her to come and see me. I suspect it was spiritual in nature because I had really prayed on the way to work about extra patience and peace this week, and for God to help me be a light to others when I’m so stressed out at the moment.

And there she was, shining light herself, spreading love and joy, and starting my day with a positive spin.

I’ve often written about the importance of Christian Community, where we can encourage each other, just like the Apostle Paul wrote about, not that long after the Resurrection. I’ve seen Jesus through it way too many times to doubt its importance in our spiritual lives. Yes, it can sometimes be hard and we sometimes get it completely wrong.

Yet, we really are better together and as the Bible says, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Mathew 18:20

A morning hug reminded me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Last Sunday, our special music was performed by a husband and wife team. I always enjoy watching them perform. Their words are always so heartfelt and there’s a beautiful humility about them. The wife has been sick recently, and the congregation has been praying for her.

They’re a little older, both sporting a little gray hair. I was blessed to be able to attend their wedding. It was a second wedding for them both. They came up after church service ended, one Sunday and were married in the presence of the congregation. I don’t know if I’ve ever attended a more heartfelt ceremony.

Afterwards, we had a potluck lunch in the fellowship hall where everyone was invited to stay. They even had a first dance, after the lunch. It was s simple affair, but incredibly meaningful, two people who have traveled around the sun enough times, who know how very important it is to have God at the center of their marriage and a church family to cheer them on.

I’ve thought of their simple ceremony often and how these days, we like to spend thousands of dollars on wedding ceremonies without even inviting God to be there, and then we wonder why the divorce rate is so high.

After they performed, she took the microphone and said she would like to say a few words. She shared that she recently had a mental crash of sorts and that she struggles with bipolar disorder. She said through some tears, that she was much better and that she wanted to share with the congregation because she was so thankful for the prayers, but that she also knew that there wasn’t one of us who hadn’t been touched by depression, or anxiety, or other mental struggles in our own families.

She wanted to remind us that these struggles were nothing to be ashamed of.

I fought tears listening to her and then again, as everyone gave her a round of applause. I thought about how a Christian community is supposed to be one that encourages and loves one another through the good stuff like weddings, baby showers and baptisms, but also through the bad stuff like funerals, sickness, and struggles of all kinds.

I admired her courage to share her struggle with her church family. There could easily have been someone who needed to hear it and know they’re not alone. The Bible tells us, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

We get that wrong a lot. Churches are made up of broken people. Mistakes are made and God gets blamed for human failures.

But, we get it right sometimes too and when we do, I believe that there are cheers in heaven. A heartfelt thanks, reminded me that there’s a supernatural strength and love within Christian community that we are all called to give and receive. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Two of the grade levels at my school, were planning a Groundhog Day luncheon. It’s just a fun reason to do a potluck on a Friday. Like most pot lucks, everyone was invited to bring a dish to share and they were nice enough to include those of us who work in the office.

When I first saw the invitation, I got excited. It’s always fun to try new dishes and to participate in a feast of sorts. But, as the week wore on, I found myself not feeling very well and fighting off some of the many germs that are floating around an elementary school this cold and flu season.

By Thursday afternoon, I had forgotten to sign up for anything or shop for anything and my parents were delivering their pampered pups for an extended visit, right after work, so I didn’t have time to go to the store and I was exhausted. I made the decision not to participate. After all, I had nothing to contribute.

Now, I have to say, that I work with some of the sweetest, most gracious women on the planet. They wouldn’t have thought twice about me not contributing anything. They would have welcomed me to sit down and eat with them anyway. The hang-up was completely mine.

When one of my front office co-workers inquired about what we could bring, they said they were covered. But, she persisted. There had to be something. They did say they could use some drinks and plates.

She said she could do some drinks and another lady said she could as well. Then she looked at me and asked if I had any paper plates at home. I was pretty sure I did. She instructed me to bring them.

When I got home and looked in my cabinet, I had almost an entire pack of paper plates.

I can’t tell you the gratitude that washed over me when I saw them. I did have something to contribute after all, no matter how small it seemed and a tiny thought began to grow.

Those plates reminded me that we are always invited to the table with Christ. Some of us will go with platters heaping over with gifts, talents, love and joy. Some of us come with just a little to share. Some of us come empty handed because the world has has stripped us of all we have to give.

But, the beautiful truth is that we are all welcome. There’s always plenty of grace, love and mercy to pass around, no matter what we have when we arrive. And in the end, when we all come to the table together, we feed each other and no one leaves hungry.

A school luncheon reminded me that Christ welcomes us just as we are. When we choose to miss the banquet, the hang-up is ours. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

I read a story a couple of weeks ago that’s just too good not to share.

In the small town of Perry, Georgia, a stay-at-home mom, Kimberly Chancy, ran into Kroger to get a single case of water for her family. While she was there, her sister called her and suggested that they cook some meals for Hurricane Irma refugees who were fleeing Florida and south Georgia.

Perry is in central Georgia and sits right on I75, so there were many people coming through. Some could go no further because there were fuel shortages and some were out of gas.

Chancy told People Magazine, “20 cases of water, 20 loaves of bread, and 10 18-pack cartons of eggs later, ‘I realized we were fixing to help somebody.'”

As it happens in small towns they called friends and those friends called friends and something beautiful got started. Neighbors came together and they were planning on delivering 500 prepared meals and 500 sack lunches. Those meals weren’t peanut butter and jelly either.

Nope, those people in Perry, prepared Boston Butts, mashed potatoes, green beans, pecan pie and homemade biscuits, to weary travelers who weren’t sure whether or not they would lose everything.

As Christians, our faith calls us to be the Good Samaritan. Our faith also tells us to practice hospitality. “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Romans 12:13

But what does that look like? Does being a Good Samaritan simply mean tending to people’s medical needs? I don’t think so.

The Good Samaritan helped a fellow, forgotten human being in need. That’s what the people in Perry did.

We often find ourselves with the desire to help others, but wonder what can we really do? There’s so much need in the world and we sometimes find ourselves with so few resources and so little time. Kimberly Chancy pointed out that with $10.00 of Crisco, buttermilk and flour, she could make 250 homemade biscuits.

I suspect those biscuits were like manna from Heaven for some of those weary travelers and I’m sure that their kindness will never be forgotten.

Kimberly Chancy and her friends saw an Esther moment and they took it, and they changed lives. They didn’t have to travel the world. They were able to stay in their tiny home town, doing what they already knew how to do, but serving others in an amazing way.

Kimberly said yes, to her sister’s call and I’ve no doubt, made Jesus smile. Her story inspires me to seek to do the same. Perhaps you needed some inspiration too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

My pastor was recently recounting a conversation with someone who said she believed in God, but just didn’t go to church. Turns out that she had been to a church where there had been a lot of ugliness and she had left with her feelings hurt.

This, unfortunately, is not a new story. Just about anyone who has been a faithful churchgoer, long enough, has witnessed some bad behavior from people who are members. People are broken and broken items tend to have sharp edges. Sharp edges can cut you whether intentionally or not.

But, we have to remember that Jesus loves the Church. If Jesus loves the church, then who hates the church? Who has the most motivation to destroy it?

Yep, the answer is Satan. Each time a Christian walks away from church, there’s no doubt, demonic celebration.

And for our part, how can we write off every church because of the behavior of the people in one particular church? If a dog were to bite you, would you automatically assume that all dogs are evil? Nope, not if you are over the age of five. You might be more careful around certain dogs, but a rational person would never write off all dogs.

Yet, a bad experience in one church, often has us deciding all churches are bad.

The Bible tells us, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17

As people of faith, we are called to sharpen and encourage one another. We are called to bring our collective gifts and serve God and one another. We are called to join together.

How does not participating in church help to grow us? How does not participating in church help us grow others?

It seems to me that our country and its people are divided now more than ever. It seems to me that the only way to reconcile differences, heal, and move forward, is through the love of Christ.

The best way to share that love and light is through the Church. My prayer is that as Christians, we make it our business to keep the pews full.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂