How has your church blessed you this past month? It sounded like a simple question – how has the church blessed you? Yet, as person after person shared, I realized that the simple assignment was deeply profound and far more revealing than I first imagined.
How has your church blessed you this past month? Everyone responded— those who love to hear themselves talk and those who refrain from speaking out loud. Everyone listened— the ones who always have a receptive ear and those who often don’t. Everyone took the question seriously enough to laugh at themselves and with each other.
How has your church blessed you this past month? The answers came quickly and came often. Sometimes the same theme was repeated over and over; other times folks went on tangents that were very different and diverse. Yet, all answered and shared what was on their hearts.
How has your church blessed you this past month? With each answer, a thread was added to the fabric of the day providing comfort. The tapestry was one of acceptance and love. Priorities clarified, and compassion seemed to increase.
How has your church blessed you this past month? It was one of those moments that makes the church the church.
As we gather during this summer season, we ask simple questions that inspire deep thought. Everyone is invited to explore, to speak, to listen. It’s okay if your answer is like the person next to you or if your answer is uniquely yours because…
Summer challenges, inspires, and provides many opportunities for us
to provide a welcome to all of God’s children.
When we do so, simply put, the church becomes the church.
Shalom, Paul