The WordPress blogging challenge for the day, “You have three hundred words to justify the existence of your favorite person, place, or thing. Failure to convince will result in it vanishing without a trace. Go!”
My response:
Light. We are light, this small community of faith.
Grace and forgiveness glue us together, yet hearts and arms open to anyone wishing entrance. The young acolytes solemnly hold their candlelighters. The worshippers see their clear faces shine. Holy smiles race around the room. An elderly woman holds her neighbor’s sleeping baby. Her life comes full circle, as she, thinking herself unneeded and unnoticed, discovers instead that practiced arms give blessings.
Miracle. We sit, staring at a screen, looking at expenses, seeing them rise yearly. Line by line, we speak of office supplies, of payroll, of utilities, of mortgages, of community needs. A building, bulging with children gently loved, patiently potty trained, taught to pray, to read, to play, to live with kindness. Yes a building that must be clean, bug-free, temperature controlled, safe. We look at each other and say, “It will take a miracle.” We look at the past year and say, “We have had a miracle.” Give us today our daily bread. Today, we have enough bread.
Death. One by one, worshippers call the names of those they loved and lost. A white rose lands in the hands of each. A sense of sorrow settles. Then they come, receive the sacrament of bread and wine. Tears spill over, both giver and receiver.
Beauty: An a cappella “Down to the River to Pray” in perfect harmony, joined by piano for triumphant finish brings us to our feet in response, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.” The presence of God permeates,
Call: “Tell me more about the acreage set apart for a community garden. I feel God calling me to this work.” Connection with another, emails and phone number exchanged, time set to explore feeding the hungry.
Yes, we are light, this small community of faith.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In