Saturday, October 26, 2013

Modern Samaritans

This past week I moved. As part of the move I had the chance to spend several hours in the car with my infant son and my mother-in-law. This might sound like a horrible thing to some people (and indeed for some it might in fact be a horrible thing)  but my baby is a darling and I genuinely like my mother-in-law.

So we got to talk...for about 5 hours. We talked about many things but most importantly I was able to ask her about her brother. This is something I've wanted to ask for a long time. My mother-in-law's brother was killed in a plane crash along with her father many years before. While they come up in conversation on occasion, it was rare for any details to be shared. My husband, however, always brings up the subject for his grandmother because he looks so much like his long dead uncle.

It turns out that's not the only resemblance.

As we talked, I learned Christian's uncle had many similar personality traits, including something that has caused some inconvenience for me on more than one occasion. Like his uncle, Christian is generous and helpful. He inherited the need to help people. Every time we come upon a stranded motorist, Christian wants to stop and help them. If there is someone clearly in distress on the sidewalk where we are, he wants to stop and help them. This has made us late, completely derailed our schedule, and sometimes required urgent searches for toilets.

While it can be inconvenient, I wouldn't trade this trait in my husband, or his family, for anything. There are so few people who will stop and help a person these days, that my husband seems to be a dying breed. I don't know if this is because fewer people are raised in the Church and so no longer have the drive to do good deeds or if it is due to the fear of other people that is instilled in us through news media. Whatever the case, it is rare that a person will stop to help another.

I wish I was comfortable stopping to help a random person, but I'm not Christian. My husband is a large, intimidating man, and could easily handle a crazy or violent person. I cannot. However, I do help when I feel safe doing so. Giving my leftover lunch to someone who is obviously hungry and begging on the street is an easy thing. Giving up my seat in the doctor's office to an old woman who is unsteady on her feet is a no-brainer. While these aren't as spectacular as the help my husband gives, they are definitely appreciated by the person being helped.

This is the kind of giving and compassionate heart people of faith must have. These actions bring light to the world. I hope as a mother, I can bring more of this as well as instill that kind of love and caring in my son. We should all be modern day good Samaritans.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Why Grow?

The pastor of our beloved East Bay church had a good sermon this past week that raised a very important issue - motivation, specifically motivation surrounding growth.

What is the point in trying to grow a church? I mean, if it doesn't have anything worth while, then why try to grow it?

I've gotten pretty Zen as I've gotten older and so the idea of hanging on to something when it has lost relevance doesn't appeal. We have to let it go.

Now, if a church has something to offer, and members are excited about these offerings and want to share them with other people, that's a whole other issue. In that case, OF COURSE INVITE PEOPLE TO CHURCH!

Clarifying our motivation behind the desire for new members is important, just as it is with any endeavor. It shows in our actions. When we try to get members because we want to get more money into the church, or because we're worried our church will die without them, we will NOT increase membership. We must have good intentions - pure motivation. We have to want new members because we genuinely believe joining our church will be enriching and affirming. People pick up on that sort of thing.

So the question remains, why should our church grow?