April 16, 2013

As a marathon runner, I felt unusually close to the events that tragically occurred at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, 4 hours and 9 minutes into the race. As an American, I was proud of the readiness and the response of so many volunteers and first responders, and glad that our FBI is directing their significant resources to investigate, which hopefully will result in arrests and prosecution. As a follower of Christ, I am reminded that as we are privileged to live in a free society, we are also among people who have various agendas, hatreds, and evil intentions.

Proverbs 3:29 says “Do not plan harm against your neighbor who lives trustingly beside you.” When this was written, 3,000 years ago, it was recognized that there is vulnerability when living in an open society. This proverb was written because of the potential for great injury and loss when people are in close proximity and trust that those around them will not plan harm. We never know who might be making such plans, so we endure TSA inspections at airports, delays when visiting newborns in the hospital, and other inconveniences related to tightened security protection. This is now a fact of life.

This Saturday, the faith community called Wesley will take a bold, positive step forward to demonstrate love and care for our “neighbors” – in Springfield and Nicaragua. Under the theme of “Strike Out Hunger” we will fund and package 150,000 meals in our gym. We will deploy teams into the community to minister to single moms, assist elderly person, and care for children. Our goal is to demonstrate that we who follow Christ will make a positive difference in people’s lives, because God loves all of us, and has equipped us to serve.

I look forward to seeing you during the mission blitz. There is still time to sign up, and those who simply show up on Saturday at Wesley Church will be put to work. May our Lord use these efforts to expand His kingdom.