Words of Faith
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Serving God
Lenten Writing Prompt #15
Write about an experience you have had serving God that stands out for you. It can be anything: working with a charitable organization, working at a soup kitchen, ushering, ministering, parenting, helping the environment...the list is endless as are the possibilities.
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Grandma Gladys
ReplyDeleteShe was my Grandma, Grandma Gladys..
She was, I thought, like all grandma were.
She cooked big meals
with homemade rolls and ham and chicken
and beans in a cream sauce
and amazing corn that I couldn’t stop eating
and then came the deserts,
her creative specialties!
She took me out to the chicken coup
and taught me how to pick eggs and carry them
in a wire basket.
She taught me how to pick beans
and snap off the top.
I got to watch her squeeze the water out of wet clothes
through a wringer
and then hang them on a line.
When the chicken were old enough
she would chop off their heads
and I would chase them down.
She was always doing something for someone:
cooking or cleaning or washing or folding
or encouraging or listening
and I never once heard her complain,
except that Grandpa would not eat her deserts.
She had nothing to prove,
and there was no one she needed to impress.
She received thanks
which she deserved
but she didn’t “need” it.
Her life was a simple gift
that I took for granted
and yet
it still
echoes in my heart.
It might not be fair to call my VBS assistance at Lend-a-Hand an experience of serving. But maybe it is fair to say that in this place whose very bones were service, the humor we provided that year to the long time director and founder of the center was a gift.
ReplyDeleteLend-a-Hand Center was founded by Peggy and Irma, an FNS midwife and a schoolteacher/farmer/civic activist. They were, and still are, some of the most important figures of my life. They set up a farm, clinic, and community center in the hollers of the Kentucky mountains, far from their homes in Indiana and Pennsylvania. Or was it Oho? I don't remember, but they've been there for close to sixty years now. This story happened when we were all much younger.
Every year they would have a week of VBS for the kids from the hollers, and the staff, mostly made up of church volunteers from around the country, would provide the instruction. We'd send out cars and vans in the morning to pick kids up, have camp, and then drive them back home. For many of the children, it was their first experience of a classroom setting, and certainly a first experience meeting people from outside the community of Stinking Creek, as it was known.
And for some of us on staff, it was our first taste of trying to corral children and teach them something. The summer I was there during college, we had one child who simply couldn't be tamed for anything. We kept switching who would have him for the day, trying to find some way to make the experience positive for all of us. But his reputation simply continued to grow.
On our last day of camp, we had a skit about creation. Each of the camper groups was assigned a day of the week to represent. My group got the sixth day. Since our kids were the youngest, and least able to speak or put on a production, we decided to use placards that they could use to say what it was that God made.
Apparently, God was needing a little humor that day, after the stress of the week. For when the children came out, one young girl carried the placard that said "man," one young boy carried the placard that said "woman," and the little boy who had been so difficult all week came out with a sign that said "booger." We looked up to see Irma, laughing with all her heart!
And I'm sure He laughs still.
DeleteServing From Beginning to Beginning
ReplyDeleteServing God and Country, I pledged in Girl Scouts, and to help other people at all times.
But in my egoyouthful circles, I was more interested in my tips, rewards and approval.
I served God in my friendships and families with loyalty and compassion;
sometimes with genuine love and concern, sometimes with resignation,
or blunt honesty that I felt imposed upon.
Nevertheless, I served.
Out in the wider world of experience, as employee, wife, mother, neighbor, church member, communication expanded like a flowering tea in water.
I learned about problems and needs of people not in my familiar containers of services.
I gave donations, collected goods, politely listened to customers, assisted employers and colleagues,contributed time toward keeping programs and activities alive for our children’s participation and the public good; somewhat self serving, for causes that touch my life.
Yet, inspired by God, to serve to all I believe.
Somewhere in the process, flavorable scents and tastes seeped out of the buds
and a spiritual aroma of identification mingled into duty and busyness,
commitment became mission and ministry more in my unpaid capacities
than my monetary wages.
In roles at church and some nonprofits,s ome sips of this new blend
were pleasurable and fulfilling,
Sometimes issues with family and outreach was exhausting,
and I refused to sing, “Here I Am, Lord.”
I was the receiver of support and encouragement;
As I received, I gave, learned, grew, and had fun
In the service of God.
So, I came to Washington seeking more yet, with goals in my mind
of a social work career, or “something” connected to the church.
I was surprised to find my answers at Foss Home and Village, a Skilled Nursing,
Assisted Living, and Long Term Facility affiliated with the ELCA
where I served as Coordinator of Volunteers.
Yes, I know I took the long, slow route to get to the point, as well as home
where I worked with staff, volunteers and residents,
in service that was a privilege, meaningful, challenging, insightful,
and never boring.
The beginning of one story.