Connecting Counts

I just finished writing a piece on my friend Trudi Rockey who died at 91. She graduated from Cornell University with a major in chemistry. When she married a widowed pastor with 3 children, Trudi had a job that paid very well as she supervised engineers. Travel to Europe  and New England ski trips
were normal parts of her life.

Let's see. My friend was very intelligent with a scientific mind. She had proven leadership skills. What do you think people would remember most about  this pastor's wife ? Yes, people remembered her as a good Bible study leader and the driving force behind the women's conference.

What seemed to make the biggest impression on people was how warmly she greeted those she just met as well as those she already knew. This was a an always present theme as I questioned people about her.  She did not just go through the motions. Trudi focused on what a person was saying to her. One family that was moving to the area talked to her after church one Sunday. The next week she remembered their names as well as details of their hunt for a house.

Perhaps you are like so many of us. Life is so busy. You don't have time to serve in the church. What should you do if there are no large blocks  of time to fill with what seems like important church chores? Instead of feeling a little guilty every time we say no, we should consider another type of service.

How much extra time would it take if instead of making a beeline for your favorite people you instead greeted those that were new or those who seemed to be lonely or hurting? What if  you really listened to the person talking to you? What if they could tell by your words and body language that they really mattered to you? Maybe you might be able to pray for or with each other.

Most of us seem to forget the biblical principle stated in I Corinthians 12:26. If  one member suffers, all suffer together, if  one member is honored, all rejoice together. Yes, there are many jobs that need to be done at any church. How important would any of those jobs be if  we failed to encourage, respect, and sometimes weep with the other parts of the body of Christ? We could have every responsibility taken care of from committee chairmen, to those responsible for flowers or music but if  we don't seek with God's help to establish lasting connections with others in God's family we have failed to keep the principles laid out in God's Word. The next time you are tempted to feel guilty for not taking on another large responsibility at church, reaffirm your commitment to your brothers and sisters in Christ, a commitment that reveals itself as you bless each other in one small act after another.

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