I've been thinking . . . about our reputation

A man came to the church office today. He was thin, rumpled, and obviously life was hard for him. He asked for food. My immediate response was to say "I'm sorry—we don't have a food closet. The church on Colusa on the other side of Tennessee has a food program." He shook his head. "No," he said, "you have to belong to a certain denomination. They wouldn't give me any." (He was mistaken about this.) "I have paid my rent, but I need food. I'm hungry. Someone told me to come here and you would help." My first thought was mild annoyance—who had told him to come here, and why? We don't have a food program. I really don't like telling people "no" and I resented someone misleading the man. But almost immediately, his insistence brought a little warm glow to my heart. He was sure we could and would help. Someone out there in the community had assured him of it. What a great thing for people to think about us—that we can and will help! That means they know we preach the Gospel here and take it seriously. "I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me to drink. When you do it for one of the least of these, my brethren, you do it for me." Mary was here with me, and she asked if we could give him some of the Salvation Army basket contributions. We agreed to give him a bag of food, and to replace what we took from the basket. He was so grateful. "Thank you, thank you. You have saved my life."

Mary and I bought a sack-full of Target brand macaroni and cheese (35 cents a box), some canned goods (30-50 cents a can) and refilled the Salvation Army Basket. That is a special ministry, and we shouldn't take from it to give to someone else (I think it's called "robbing Peter to pay Paul." So we are going to set up some "gift bags" of food to give out to people who come by. It makes my heart ache—and my blood boil—to think that there are people out there who are hungry and have to knock on doors to survive. I am shamed that a few boxes of macaroni and cheese and some beans could make someone so grateful that they would say "you have saved my life." I know this is a busy, giving season with so many demands on our time and our purses. But it is an opportunity for us all to get in the habit of thinking about those in need. Many of you support the Salvation Army basket regularly. Many would if they remembered to bring their contributions. And now I am asking you to occasionally bring food for our new, tiny little food cupboard. (Remember, we don't have to solve the problem of hunger—would that we could. What we do have to do is whatever we can—great or small.) When you go shopping, and you see something like mac 'n cheese or peanut butter or crackers or soup on sale for a really low price, pick up a few for the food ministry here—both the basket and the cupboard. Then say to yourself "we have a food program at our church." Isn't that terrific! After all, we have a reputation to uphold.

Shalom,
Judith