Take One Step...
If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be on that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. - 1 John 3:17
When I was a little girl, one of my favorite activities included crayons, markers, a piece of blank manila paper and my daddy. Using one marker, he would draw a free-flowing design with various shapes, squiggles and curves. Slowly and carefully, I would color in the design …. usually with the same crayons. Even when I was young, the perfectionist side of me meant some colors had to stay in that box. They just weren't worthy of my masterpiece. What if the weird lime-colored crayon ruined my picture? That crayon never seemed to match.
Over the past week, I have been reflecting over the plain manila paper from so long ago. It brings my soul great comfort to know that as we welcome a new year, we also begin with a blank canvas. If you are like me, you most likely have predictable patterns and routines woven into the tapestry of your canvas. We all enjoy familiar splashes of color and design. However, what about that strange crayon still left in the box?
I am blessed to worship in a beautiful community with amazing people. One of our high school youth and her family have led a courageous effort to care for the poor in Dallas-Ft. Worth. This family's act of kindness encouraged a local charity to provide more goods for greater distribution. On a recent Saturday, my family had the blessed opportunity to join them less than 30 minutes from our home.
Every aspect of this was out of my comfort zone. We drove down streets I would not typically travel. We parked our cars in an "untidy place." On one of the coldest days of the year, it was a sea of tents, blankets and cold, hungry people. They seemed to linger, wander and wait. Suddenly, a precious soul walked up to me and gently whispered, "Do you just have some gloves? My hands are freezing." Over the next few minutes, I placed mittens on her hands, a scarf around her neck and a bright red hat on her head. Few words were spoken, until she looked deep into my eyes and said, "Thank you so much, and God bless you." It was her tender embrace, a hug filled with love and warmth that took my breath away.
In that moment, one experience offered a splash of new color to a familiar canvas.
What if the greatest moments ahead of us are the ones that take our hearts/souls out of our comfort zones? What if we take every crayon out of that box?
We live in a complicated society dominated by words and speech. Sometimes, other's words discourage us and leave us feeling empty. Many times, words alone just seem inadequate. 1 John reminds us to love one another with our actions and in truth. How does one do this? Begin by taking one step forward to help those in need. Redesign your canvas. Allow new colors to infiltrate the empty spaces. Celebrate serving as the hands and feet of Jesus. Anticipate the simple joy of being refreshed. Amen.
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