Last week we met online with 20 ministries to discuss why crises like pandemics present opportunities for growth. Especially for the Church.
The reason is simple: people are hurting. The Church brings hope eternal. You are the Church.
Your neighbors lost paychecks and jobs. Childcare and classrooms. Pomp and Circumstance and graduation events celebrating years of work. Spouses and loved ones and next-door friends they rarely saw but now no longer will.
Every loss creates a hole hating its emptiness. Every loss longs to be filled with hope.
Some paychecks can be replaced. Deployed VBS in neighborhoods might cover the childcare. Online graduation events married with drive-by shout outs make memories not long forgotten.
You won’t be able to replace all that has gone missing in your community. For much you can only offer a heart that listens and lips that barely move.
Remember Jesus tags along with you. Where you go there He goes. Tis the way of being part of His baptized family.
So into her home or onto her Facebook page, your Church brings proof she is not forgotten. You serve as a physical reminder Jesus mourns her loss.
Yes you, too, hurt. But serving while hurting brings healing more quickly. You discover your journey a road of sorrows with a crowd. Not solo.
You follow the One whose Via Dolorosa guarantees pain won’t last forever.