Sitting here with the sun shining at 9:30 in the evening, I find myself at a familiar place. Last week I welcomed a new minister to town and my church. I sat waiting at the church house for 2 hours past the time they were supposed to show up and missed a friends BBQ as a result. The first concern out of the minister’s wife’s mouth was was there a contract for cutting the lawn and shoveling the snow in the winter? Next was did we have someone to come in and clean on a weekly basis? Oh, and would it be possible to bring the washer and dryer upstairs as it was too much trouble to go up and down stairs just to do washing? Since then I’ve purchased a new microwave oven, helped them to get NWT plates for their car, and drivers licenses. Today, I had to set up their Internet and next week, it’s the satellite TV. Having the minister will likely bankrupt the church within 2 years at the current giving rate. I really don’t blame the minister or his wife. Most of these are things that I would do for anyone else new to town, but maybe a little selfishly, I’m tired of it being me again doing it! As my wife and I look back over the years, we’re hard pressed to remember a time when we weren’t the givers and had someone giving back. Maybe that makes us a little cynical, but it speaks to the way we feel and I’m sure we’re not alone. If life is just about taking, then why bother? How is this any different than everyone else? We continue on as troupers knowing at least theologically that our treasure is in Heaven, but that doesn’t stop it feeling like an empty experience. It’s funny, but even as I’m writing this, I’m feeling guilty about writing it! I know that He asks us to give Him all our cares, but we’re also told to bear one another’s burdens and sometimes that just needs to be a listening ear or telling each other thanks. For those of us who are constantly giving, the “thanks” isn’t the reason why we do what we do, but that “thanks” or telling us that we’re “appreciated” sure can act like an oasis in the desert. As many of you know, I’m really not a “touchy/feely” kind of person and there are many of us who don’t expect this kind of a response, but just think how blown away people would be if we surprised them with a thank-you!
If we are to be used in any way by God in this generation, it will only be as the world around us sees the way that we genuinely care for each other. Let’s show Christ through the compassion, concern and thanksgiving we have for each other and the lonely world will be irresistibly drawn to the Saviour.
It’s now 10:30 pm and still as sunny as when I began today’s blog and so is my spirit!
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