Community Day
Today was a day chock filled with community.
It started off with me having a double date. Me with my daughter and Ken with his daughter. We went to Brookfield Zoo near Chicago. Hot dogs, ice cream, and sharing life. He is divorced and his daughter is here for a precious short time every summer. Imagine trying to fill a lifetime of moments into one summer. She lives in Kansas. We had a wonderful time and it was good.
Then I grabbed Dana and Kevin. They are a young couple and engaged. They hope to be married next year. Trying to figure each other out is a hard road. I think anyone who is married or has been married knows how arduous a road it is..but when it is right, it is so rewarding. Anyway, they went with me to the East side of Joliet to help with a food pantry. They worked as a team on distributing the meat. This is the hardest part of the food pantry. It is where you see people in need sometimes getting greedy as opposed to grateful. They did it with smiles. I give them credit for the way they handled themselves and it was great watching them talk to Pastor Fran and Laurie and others from Lifespring. I am proud of both of them for their willingness to help out and keeping a good attitude about it. It was fun spending time with them.
I got home and was hoping to jump in the shower to wash a day of sweat off before the next portion of my day. But as I was about to head upstairs I see Elizabeth’s car pull in the driveway. I’ve not seen her in over 15 years. She was a good sport going with me and Jess to have some Buffalo Wild Wings. Then we came back to the homestead and we chatted a bit as adults do when seven year olds are taking a bath.
I had a delightful day with her.
End of the day I do not know if any of these people will be a part of the church, but they are a part of my life and I treasure this day of just building community. Building relationships. You do not enter these relationships in the hopes they will change, join your church, or any ulterior motive. You become a part of their lives because you truly care for them. Anything else is a bonus. I am there for them in whatever capacity I can be there for them.
It was a wonderful day and I am enriched for it. This was a lesson in community and relationships. Just another day.
In a few minutes Dennis will come over and the bonding continues. I love this calling. Sure beats a normal job.
