Agenda VS Mission

This is Easter Week. Busyness at churches is the norm across this country. Our church family is no different.

The week started well... Palm Sunday was fun, kids waving branches, singing with the Praise Team, afternoon spent with Family.

Monday was the syllabus shock day, and the realization that I was REALLY going to have to get serious about getting reading done. That afternoon, a homeless woman walked in off the street looking for help.

Decision time.

Do I brush her off and brush her out the door and get on with my list of to-do's? Or, do I meet with her, listen to her, and try and do my best to embody Christ?

My agenda VS God's mission.

Thankfully, I had the good sense to realize that I could at least listen to her story and try and help. There was a legitimate need, that was clear. We had food in the refrigerator, and some in the pantry that I could pass on. We have a comfortable library, warm and out of the cold. There were things I could do immediately to show the love of Christ.

Then, as I made phone calls to local social service agencies, it was becoming readily apaprently that this endeavor was going to eat up the rest of my afternoon and make me late for dinner at home. A call to explain the situation to my wife, a few more calls to church members and church agencies. Finally, a plan of action formed and a decision was made. She got a room for the night, and had an appointment with a crisis counselor the next morning. Money for bus fare, food to eat. I think she's on her way to getting back on her feet... if she's willing to follow through.

She seemed shocked at the compassion shown her. Having worked with, in, and for churches and social service agencies for my entire adulthood, I can understand why. I was "this close" (picture thumb and finger a millimeter apart) to brushing her off myself and getting on with my day... my agenda.

Tuesday had another occurrance that showed my that God is more interested in my openness to his mission than in helping me cross off things on my to-do list.

This Sunday, at 1 am, 5 area youth died in a tragic car accident. I was called to a meeting hosted by the School District to see what could be done as a community to support families and youth struggling with this horrible event (it is Spring break here, so the kids don't have the usual network of support available through the schools). I learned about this meeting 4 hours before it was happening.

Decision time AGAIN.

So, to try and shorten this post a little... the end result was that our church will be opening its doors for a joint effort of area churches, the schools, and the mental health community to provide a safe place to reflect, pray, cry, laugh, mourn... whatever they need to do to come together and find community in this difficult time.

Let me tell you... none of this was on my agenda to start the week. But, I'm glad I crumpled up my to-do list and took time to listen to God.