A lot has happened since I last blogged. Our church burned down being the largest event. I should have blogged through the fire. My Spanish teacher says the word should or "deber" is not a good word to use and only makes people feel bad about themselves. So, although I lament my lack of blogging through a tough time, the truth is that it was a tough time and there was little time. During the seven months under the tent I barely got my Bible studies and sermons written each week, therefore the luxury of processing what was happening was not an option. Now that we are well-moved into the portable the gift of processing is slowly coming back and absolutely necessary. I hope to share some of it here.
Tonight myself and one of the women from the Spanish service arrived to find trash baskets full all over the building. Another man showed up before the service and suggested we emptied them...all of us privately a bit perturbed which was written on our faces. Then later in the service I went to grab the hymnal from the pulpit and out came three small cups that our children use each day to get water. I said aloud, "there is just trash everywhere." Most days as I walk through our building I find trash in the oddest of places, the places only small people with little hands can put it. As we drank our coffee at the end of the service we thanked God for the mess and then cleaned all the stains of the floor. The truth is that if there was no mess there probably wouldn't be any children either. I was reminded today that each day as I bend down to pick up the small cup that I find between the couch and the wall that I didn't put there, I should pray for the little one that did put it there. When we cease to clean we cease to live as church and as people. Today I thank God for the mess! May it continue and may I be humbled to be thankful for the little people that make it!
