Lest you read my last post and thought we are a family full of the holy of holy all the time. I present today's episode with Hayley.
in post-school meltdown "I'm hot! I'm sweaty! I'm hungry!" in full tears and whine
Hayley: This sun is tooooo bright!!
Me: You'll have to close your eyes, I can't control the sun.
Hayley: (in full whine/cry): I WANT JESUS TO MOVE THE SUN!
well.
there's that.
Wednesday, April 10
a thin place.
This past Saturday, as we returned home, a man approached Michael in the yard.
A traveler, his bicycle propped against the far side of the church, wanting permission to unroll his mat and sleep next to the building. We offered him some food, water, a rag, a fresh shirt, and we unlocked the church to give him a place out of the cold and the mosquitos.
Each time a traveler comes through - it looks a little different - many are looking for help up the road, not a place to stay or rest. Its a hard stretch of road - our small community situated midway between two towns, the last of the flat road before the hills give way.
His name was John. Face weathered. Gray hair. Tanned from the days spent traveling.
He stayed for service, sitting on the back pew.
Bowen and I sat at the other end of the pew at the soundboard. I caught her staring at him halfway through the service. She saw me look at her, and she whispered to me, "I'm just looking at Jesus, Mama. Looking at Mr. John."
oh, the tears fill my eyes even now.
a divine confirmation - for him, we did what we should.
and my daughter, she got to see Jesus. In that moment, I have no doubt that she saw the face of Christ in a stranger. Jesus, sitting with us, right here in the middle of nowhere.
Jesus in the face of service when fears or concern or doubt or uncertainty could freeze us or prevent us from offering basic courtesies or simple aid.
Matthew 25:41-45
A traveler, his bicycle propped against the far side of the church, wanting permission to unroll his mat and sleep next to the building. We offered him some food, water, a rag, a fresh shirt, and we unlocked the church to give him a place out of the cold and the mosquitos.
Each time a traveler comes through - it looks a little different - many are looking for help up the road, not a place to stay or rest. Its a hard stretch of road - our small community situated midway between two towns, the last of the flat road before the hills give way.
His name was John. Face weathered. Gray hair. Tanned from the days spent traveling.
He stayed for service, sitting on the back pew.
Bowen and I sat at the other end of the pew at the soundboard. I caught her staring at him halfway through the service. She saw me look at her, and she whispered to me, "I'm just looking at Jesus, Mama. Looking at Mr. John."
oh, the tears fill my eyes even now.
a divine confirmation - for him, we did what we should.
and my daughter, she got to see Jesus. In that moment, I have no doubt that she saw the face of Christ in a stranger. Jesus, sitting with us, right here in the middle of nowhere.
Jesus in the face of service when fears or concern or doubt or uncertainty could freeze us or prevent us from offering basic courtesies or simple aid.
Matthew 25:41-45
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