I'm Gonna Live So God Can Use Me
Anywhere, Lord, Anytime!
- African-American spiritual
Armed with several pounds of turkey , 12 loaves of bread, 150 slices of cheese and hundreds of cookies, Exaltation Choir put their hands and hearts to work last Saturday morning to make 144 sandwiches, bag 300 cookies, and decorate lunch bags with fun pictures and inspiring messages to send to Austin Street today, Aug. 27th. I knew the offering of sandwiches and cookies would be needed as well as appreciated, but I could never have predicted the blessing that came to these 25 6th, 7th and 8th graders as a result of their efforts.
Eagerly signing up for choir a few weeks ago, this enthusiastic and energetic group couldn't wait to come to the annual kick-off retreat ready to enjoy an overnight which included swimming, singing, playing and their favorite--WhirlyBall and Laser Tag. As the events unfolded, I couldn't help but notice the smiles, the laughter, the kind and friendly exchanges as the returning 7th and 8th graders greeted and welcomed the incoming 6th graders along with new youth who have recently joined or visited CCPC. After spending the night in homes, they returned bright and early Saturday morning (still smiling) for the other events--more singing, a crazy scavenger hunt in the church and the planned service projects. Pictures can only give you a glimpse of the blessing that was to unfold as I watched the kids intermingle, work together to organize and make sandwiches, to bag cookies, and sort shoes. God was in the middle of the entire experience - He was providing a hands-on experience of the very scripture we had just read and discussed the previous night in our host homes - 1 Corinthians 12: 14-26--Here was a living example of the members of Christ's body working as one, each important, each respected, each offering special gifts for the whole. Rather than a "task" or a "work project" it became a true source of joy for all of us, working and chatting side by side, putting our efforts together for others.
As our retreat closed, we sat together in a circle, each person sharing their favorite moment of the weekend or their best memory from last year's Exaltation Choir. Yes, WhirlyBall and laser tag were right there near the top of the list, but at the top was the following memory, shared by each 7th and 8th grader returning from last year -- "singing The Lord's Prayer around the Survivor Tree last Spring at the Oklahoma City Memorial." This experience on our singing tour to OKC probably lasted 2 minutes. God transformed these 2 minutes into a life-changing experience that has been etched in these hearts for a lifetime. I wonder next year, how many will share their stories about making "zillions" of turkey and cheese sandwiches together at retreat? Praise God for turning the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Thank you, God, for this new day
and for the opportunities
You place before us to serve
and love others.
Use us today
and each day as Your hands,
Your feet and Your voice
in this needy world.
Amen.
