the promise

This past Thursday at Central was busy! Grace Clinic was full, and, with much of the church still out of commission due to the renovations, everywhere downstairs, including the sanctuary, was crowded. I met new people, visited with friends, and did a slightly better job this time of keeping the shower list moving. Overall, I hope I made myself more of a help than not! There were many connections that day, all opportunities to give and receive sincerity, gentleness, and kindness.  

But there is always a kind of energy about Tuesday/Thursday at Central that goes above and beyond the therapeutic interactions that take place. We have been learning about the Gifts of Wesleyanism in sermons for the past six weeks, discussing key principals of giving grace, justice-making, leadership, and this past Sunday, the very real fact that we need each other, that loneliness is too great a burden for the human heart and mind.  

Pondering this gave me a new understanding of what makes Central feel divine. All of us have troubles, insecurities, heartaches –they are a part of the human condition. But when you add to this the loneliness and isolation of being without a home, of sleeping on the sidewalk or the beach, it is hard to take. But on Tuesday/Thursday we have each other, and God is surely with us—just as promised.