Saturday, August 30, 2008

building community

It was a little thing. Spaghetti pie, actually. With bread and salad and ice cream bars for dessert.

She’s a friend from the neighborhood, so I brought the food over hot, right at dinnertime. She brought her beautiful baby girl, their third child, home just a few hours before.

“Thank you so much,” she said as I laid the food out on the counter and tucked the ice cream bars into her freezer. “This is amazing. Have people done this for you before?”

“They have,” I responded.

“Wow. Nobody has ever brought me a meal before.”

Let that sink in. Nobody has ever brought me a meal before.

When I told Llama Papa, he said, “Well, our church does something right.”

“Or, we, The Church, are doing something wrong,” I responded.

(I know. Ask him how much he appreciates my optimism…)

Are we so busy in our churches reaching out to one another that we miss opportunities to serve others in our community? Our own neighbors? Don’t get me wrong, the serving of one another in Christian community is a beautiful thing. Beautiful.

Let it spill over, friends. And not because it’s one more thing you should do. If it’s just another obligation, then don’t bother. But as you build community with your neighbors and the people in your life, as you become friends and care for people, really care for them, let it spill over. Let the beauty of Christian community spill over and touch the people around you.

9 comments:

Liberty said...

Well said! And you are right on!

Lara said...

This is why I am so glad to be a part of my neighborhood community. I know I'm lucky that way. This summer one of the gals had twins and the list of people bringing meals extended for over two months (with only people from the neighborhood helping - I don't think she goes to church).

I've taken a pass on morning Bible Study groups I've been invited to (albeit reluctantly) because they interfered with this Thursday morning "coffee group". We need to be part of both kinds of community and both kinds of community need us.

My two cents.

Mad About Plaid Girl said...

This is my first time reading your blog, so I've not read everything so forgive me if you have already posted about this, but--have you read the book Llama, Llama Red Pajama? IT IS GREAT> You would love it..a children's book.....so funny.

mommanator said...

Since here in Fla- we ahve been taking meals across the street to an older guy. He is most apreciative, but he also wants to know why we are doin it. It is hard for him to think someone actually does something like this for nothing

FrazzMom said...

Well said, my friend. Well said.

Mandy said...

Amazing how such a small gesture can be such a powerful ministering tool. God bless you for doing that.

Anonymous said...

You are spot on with this!

Anonymous said...

Love the thoughts. I totally agree that we often overlook our physical community around us.

And of course, I whole-heartedly approve of the meal choice.

When did you get on twitter??

Llama Momma said...

hey SP -- My husband came back from WWDC and said "you HAVE to twitter. EVERYONE is twittering." So I started twittering. We both twitter now. Not sure it's ALL that, but it takes about twenty seconds!