October 5 - “Keep Spreading”

It’s Sunday again.  Today’s the day we head back up to Mansfield to retrieve my Mom and our dogs.  Mom will stay in Houston with my brothers until we can get her back with us.  The dogs will “board” with their cousin Lucy, Kel and Christina’s dog.  Another plan made.  Another plan carried out.  One step at a time. 

Our gathering today was not as intense as last week’s.  There were a few more Seasiders back from evacuation points all over Texas.  There were a few less workers, though the two guys from South Oaks were already taking measurements for a future mission trip to install showers.  We sat in the school desks rather than changing things around too much.  Lanny has developed an allergy to the mold in his house, so he can barely talk.  The youth praise team from University had to play in Clear Lake, so we sang along with some music videos Mike provided.  One was especially poignant.  It was a series of images from Ike set to the Casting Crowns song, “Praise You in This Storm.”  Definitely sobering when the pictures you see are places you knew.  But we were together.  We were inside a building with power.  We sang.  We prayed.  We shared communion and more than a few hugs. 

And something else happened today.  It wasn’t earth-shattering, stock-market-crashing (though many of us just now heard that it actually did crash.  Strange how huge things like that seem so far away when you see them from the flood).  What began to happen today was a shift, a movement – however slight – away from being the victims and toward being rescuers.  More and more people are arriving back home.  More and more are discovering what they need.  More and more looking up from their own personal tragedy with that initial desperation and “what-do-I-do-now?” 

But now as people sign their name on the “I Need Help” list, they are also saying, “Where is the ‘I Can Help’ list?”  “I have two open bedrooms.”  “Here is some extra bedding.”  “Come over to my house for a hot shower.”  Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”  That means when the church takes care of each other, we are spreading around some of God’s glorious riches.  Keep spreading!

Father, don’t let us be engrossed in our own need.  Help us to hold hands, together looking outward, so we can see where you are at work and join you in spreading the glorious riches of your love.  Amen.