More rain....another dreary day? Or another chance to wear red? To brighten someone's day? Sure enough, this morning, the rains came again; the thunder struck just as I was headed out the door. I looked up again from the safety of my apartment in awe. Luckily I was using my trusty red purse and I could grab and go without adding accessories.
Some days, I see no one in the office. Just me, in my solitude. Those are usually the days I am having a good hair day, or have pulled together a smart outfit. Then there are those 'other' days...
Well, today my red purse and I were going to cheer someone up. Lately we have been going through a drought of people needing help from the food pantry. Yet the congregation has been stocking it steadily. I've been praying that the food wouldn't sit neglected. That it would be put to use.
He will listen to the prayers of the destitute. He will not reject their pleas. Psalm 102:17 The Lord has legions of angels waiting to be discharged at His command.
The phone rang and it was an elderly lady needing food. Okay, Lord. This is good. She came through the rain and also told me she knew of a few more people who could use help. Okay, Lord. Three more elderly ladies came through the rain. Bless them, Lord. Then a young lady called with the electricity shut off in her home and all her food had gone bad. Okay, Lord! What is this! I know I said send them, but FIVE in a row! C'mon, can I get a break? Can I EAT my lunch?
Can't I just hang up my wings for an hour?
How many times when we're in a drought do we pray for rain and then complain when the rain comes? You can't ask God to bless you and then send back the blessing after he has moved heaven and earth to make it possible. The opportunity to help these women was a blessing. An opportunity to sow seed. A prayer answered. Not just a prayer to save the food from perishing. But an chance that I might be blessed. Not just a prayer to save someone's life who might be a widow, alone, resolved to thinking that no one cares about her and she should just starve and do the world a favor. But a chance that I might be saved. That even my soul might be touched by the wisdom of an elder to help me reach my purpose.
I resisted wanting to hurry them through, to fill up a bag or a box and send them away. Yes, Lord, I hear you. The time you spend with them is your meal, your chance to have a meaningful experience together. We talked of food, of recipes. Kitchen lore. Life. Families. The stress and embarassment a person living in poverty has to endure can cause so many health problems. I urged them to not be shy, to receive the help. That we've gone through the same thing. That we wanted to give it. That we delighted in helping them.
To see the appreciation and joy on their faces as they left, not heads hung in shame, apologetic as if they had stolen something, but hopeful. Hopeful that this was the beginning of a turn around. They commented on the beauty of the building, and they were only in the hallway! I took them in the sanctuary and they were in awe. For a few minutes they tried to put together a few words to describe it. Finally, one said, "I do believe this is the nicest one I've ever seen."
We spoke of the rain often, as they managed to pull up their car and load up their bags. As they were getting into the car, one lady shouted, "Look it's BREAKING!" And sure enough, the rain had stopped. We all shared a moment of appreciation for what God had done.
"I am putting my rainbow in the cloud - it will be there as a sign." Genesis 9:13 Lord, give me strength to push through the storms, to know your Spirit in me is strong and is not dampered by rain.
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