I love days like today when I have the opportunity to say, "Hmmm....Lord, what would you have me do today?" when I wake up. Most of my days, there is a plan. Days like today usually come with surprises. Most of them good. I had a day like this yesterday too.....a real luxury!
Yesterday's surprise was a conversation with the guy who came to change out our old electric meter with a "smart meter". We shall see how smart it is when we get the bill!! I was working in the yard when I saw him park his truck at the curb in front of our house, put his orange cones out, and start unpacking boxes. Since I wasn't expecting anyone, I sauntered up and asked him what he was doing. Turns out he is an ex-GTE/Verizon employee so we got into a "good old days" discussion. Later on in the morning I saw him return and was able to at least offer him a cold bottle of water. We were both thankful that I was home and that I had cold water in the frig.
Today I took a trip down to a local food bank to deliver the donations collected by our congregation this past Sunday. You might remember my working a few days last fall at the one here in my town. I was very dismayed then to discover that while there were good intentions, it was very lacking. For one thing the produce delivered by the local store was mostly rotten. Why do people think that our needful only deserve spoiled, out of date food?? For another, the space was only a small closet so there wasn't room for much, and most of what was available was pinto beans and rice. The people who "ran" it didn't have a list of needs, so what was donated often seemed to be whatever people were getting rid of from their own pantries - again, a lot of it out of date! Can you hear my big sigh??
This morning's trip was my first visit to this particular food pantry. Although I admit to being a little lost in trying to figure out where to take by bags, the people were friendly and very helpful. They apologized for being rather discombobulated because there was a delivery truck there, and they were having to make space for it's contents. Even so, there were probably at least a dozen people there to help so no-one seemed too stressed about it. I saw refrigerators and freezers at the ready, and shelves with fresh produce that looked better than some I have seen at my grocery store. Before I left, I was able to go to their website and see a list of what they needed so I supplemented my own donations with some toothbrushes and personal care items which I knew they were in real need of. They are housed in...well....a house! I wish it had been a little quieter there, because I would have enjoyed a tour. I was pretty impressed! I left them my information and told them they could call me if they needed help. I don't think I'll be dreading to go!
The better news is that this food bank is in the process of mentoring a friend of mine to set up a food bank in our own community. I'm excited to see it happening. Hubby has been asked to be on the board. I'm not sure what my role will be, but she has a gleam in her eye when she says, "Oh, I have something in mind!" Something tells me I'll be there frequently!
Gratitude for:
- a couple of days relief from 100+ temps
- Seeing a community pull together and serve with happy faces and with the good stuff, not just the left overs!
- Living in a community that cares.
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