Changing the World
This weekend United Methodists got out of their churches and took on projects for the annual, "Change the World" day. So, is the world changed thanks to this effort? For a handful of folks who connected with some Methodists in Maplewood, NJ, I think the world is changed, for the better, just a bit.
I had the chance to visit with a team including 5-year olds, teenagers and some adult-folks rebuilding a garden for a neighbor dealing with cancer and a bunch of other challenges. She was thrilled to be able to look out the window -- feeling lousy from a last round of chemo -- and not have to look at a garden-full of weeds reminding her of what she was too sick to do.
The team did an amazing job restoring the garden and sharing God's love with someone in need of a big God-hug. But one of my favorite parts of visiting this site was the reaction from all the neighbors on the street. They were so happy for their neighbor to get a new garden, and a little surprised that a bunch of church folks were out weeding and planting. One of the neighbors said, "Now that's what church should be."
So what does a changed world look like? At one home it looks like hope. A new hope for the future for one woman, who got some help getting her home ready for an upcoming move. At another, it looks like re-connecting. It was a chance to connect with some old friends and a chance to make some new friends for a couple who haven't been able to get out much.
For everyone involved, I think, it was a reminder that we can change the world for someone any and every day -- and in fact, that is what church should be. Thanks everyone who worked so hard this weekend and for inspiring us all to be the change that God called us to be.
I had the chance to visit with a team including 5-year olds, teenagers and some adult-folks rebuilding a garden for a neighbor dealing with cancer and a bunch of other challenges. She was thrilled to be able to look out the window -- feeling lousy from a last round of chemo -- and not have to look at a garden-full of weeds reminding her of what she was too sick to do.
The team did an amazing job restoring the garden and sharing God's love with someone in need of a big God-hug. But one of my favorite parts of visiting this site was the reaction from all the neighbors on the street. They were so happy for their neighbor to get a new garden, and a little surprised that a bunch of church folks were out weeding and planting. One of the neighbors said, "Now that's what church should be."
So what does a changed world look like? At one home it looks like hope. A new hope for the future for one woman, who got some help getting her home ready for an upcoming move. At another, it looks like re-connecting. It was a chance to connect with some old friends and a chance to make some new friends for a couple who haven't been able to get out much.
For everyone involved, I think, it was a reminder that we can change the world for someone any and every day -- and in fact, that is what church should be. Thanks everyone who worked so hard this weekend and for inspiring us all to be the change that God called us to be.
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