What to do? What to do? What to do?

Since I was old enough to form opinions, I have been an advocate for social justice. I believe that all people have the right to lives that are without hunger and want. I believe that opportunities should be available to all without regard to gender, race, sexual orientation, age, etc.

Today, I have been questioning my “beliefs” because I am realizing that “sayin’ ain’t doin.’” Sure, I write checks to support worthy causes, both at church and in the community. Sure, I donate items I can no longer use. Sure, I even crochet shawls and lap afghans for our support of the women’s shelter.

I know I could do more.

Smokey, my husband, recently had the opportunity to attend the Florida-Bahamas Synod gathering and has made me think about how we could more fully participate in helping others who are in real need. He was introduced to the notion that there really ARE programs and agencies that are in place locally – all we need to do is support what they are doing to relieve suffering and want. We do not have to spend energy re-inventing programs and processes – we just have to roll up our sleeves and get involved in their good work.

We’re supporting the mission work in which our youth are engaged, and have been impressed with the impact of their giving when they return from such trips. They have talked about how they felt closer to God and each other when they engaged in helping in the most basic ways. Those feelings don’t have to be limited to youth; there are plenty of ways for adults to get involved in helping those facing really devastating times right now and right here.

I’m going to look for a way to serve right in my own community. Please join me in this effort to operationalize what social justice really means.

Author: Diane Bechtold

What Made Me Happy…

Blog – May 4, 2011

Dennis McClellan

Recently I had an experience that caused me great happiness – one that I really wasn’t looking forward to – an event that I thought was going to be laborious and boring. My wife had volunteered and I followed along like a lifeless mannequin.

After the lengthy evenings she had put into preparing for Holy Week and the festivities centered around Easter, I could only imagine how tired she was (as were all the others involved in evening practices and rehearsals). I found it easy to put myself into her place (even though I wasn’t part of all those long hours), and I became “tired” for her. Somehow, by the end of services on Easter, I had convinced myself that I deserved a break as much as she did.

And so, on the Sunday following Easter, I “sort of reluctantly” followed her to the church campus and into the Parish Hall to pack 50,000 meals for Haiti.

I’m sure anyone reading this can relate, in some way, to that feeling – a feeling that says, “No more right now; I just want to roll up in a ball and veg.”

Well, as it is said, “God moves in mysterious ways.” Boy did I find that out on May 1, 2011.

That afternoon I watched as bunches of adults and kids jammed into the Parish Hall, lined up at 10 pre-set tables, and spent the next two hours (just two hours) filling clear plastic bags with a mixture of food products and vitamins that can sustain life for thousands of individuals and families.

The work was joyous and the sound was overwhelming. That sound was a combination of laughter and chatter brought on by all those assembled – many of whom didn’t really know each other before that day. Many had seen each other, but didn’t know names or hadn’t interacted due to age differences or because they attend different services. Nevertheless, they lined up on either side of a production line, where barriers of age and being nameless were broken down quickly – and, I believe, permanently. By the time we all departed that afternoon, we had done a lot more than pack 50,000 meals for Haiti --- All of us had made new friends. We had a great time communicating and discovering and laughing. The competition between tables was hilarious and just plain fun.

What’s the bottom line here? It’s simple.

I had a tremendous time that afternoon. I forgot about my “supposed tiredness” and overlooked my desire to lie on the sofa and watch golf on TV. And seeing my wife have a great time supervising her table – and not allowing all the time she had spent (like so many others) preparing for Easter get in her way – became a strong wake-up call for me. It was apparent that it is possible to find strength and enjoyment when doing something for others – even when you won’t see the results. Just knowing that you are doing something of value for others can be very invigorating. And, nothing can beat being part of a winning team.