NOT CONTAGIOUS

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

In a contagious world, we learn to keep our distance. If we get too close to those who are suffering, we might get infected by their pain. It may not be convenient or comfortable. But only when you get close enough to catch their hurt will they be close enough to catch your love. - John Ortberg

How convicting is that little nugget from one of my favorites, Ortberg?

I was serving with the Attorney General’s team yesterday all the way down in Scioto County Ohio.  If you don’t know where that is, it is almost Kentucky.  I was in Portsmouth to be more specific.  It was a beautiful drive from an earlier meeting in West Chester, but once I pulled into Portsmouth, you could almost “sense the suffering”.

If you are not familiar with “DREAMLAND” (http://www.samquinones.com/books/dreamland) it is a book written by Sam Quinones that chronicles and documents the journey to the opiate epidemic in Ohio, the same epidemic that thankfully our President took some further action to help quell just yesterday. 

But in Sam’s book he speaks specifically about the devastation of community in Portsmouth.  And it had been a few years since I had been down that way and now armed with this new perspective it was clear that just from a cursory glimpse this little town and region was hurting.

That was confirmed as we sat with 20 or so community leaders to discuss ways we could restore community and hope.  Of those leaders many were from local churches who were SEEKING ways to engage, seeking ways to connect, looking for ways to help.

And while it was just one meeting on one day in October, as I prayed the meeting to a close, I am confident that yesterday was a great first step to turning the tide. For in that room were some supremely gifted and compassionate folks who were ready to DO as ORTBERG suggests, allow LOVE to COLLIDE with the CHALLENGE; to get CLOSE enough to make a difference! 

This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other. John 13:35 (MSG)

While in Columbus this week with some members of the Catholic DIOCESES, a student shared some notes from an interview that he had with a mom who had lost her daughter to overdose and now had custody of her granddaughter. 

He shared how her life was CHANGED by a fella named PASTOR SAM. 

Pastor SAM knew nothing about overdoses.  He wasn’t a drug counselor.  He really didn’t have a lot of solutions.  Yet HE GOT CLOSE to this mom.  Texts of concern, frequent phone calls, occasional visits, and coffee chats.  

And what happened?

Mom’s hope is being restored.

Sam’s LOVE pressed its way past the challenge and this mom felt valued. 

Her life, as she remarked, was FOREVER changed by Sam.

Easy to see where I am going today right?

Those who are suffering around us are FAR from CONTAGIOUS. They need someone to “catch” some of their hurt and experience a little love.

Is that someone you?

I hope so.

Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community.

Anthony J. D'Angelo

Have a blessed WEEKEND!

I love you all!

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE