Seven year old Lily and her brother set up a blue canopy in their front yard inviting the neighbors to collect canned goods for SHIM, South Hills Interfaith Movement. A flier had come to our front door a few days earlier asking us to drop by to make a donation: “Anything you bring is enuff.” As the weekend rolled along, I watched them sitting expectantly, hour after hour, waiting for cars to pull up with bags of canned green beans, peanut butter, soups, and pasta sauce. Any time we drove down the street on Saturday or Sunday, seeing the children hanging out in the front yard encouraged all of us to think about our South Hills neighbors in need. As Lily and Peter were packing up on Sunday, one harried lady pulled up and said, “It took me all weekend to pull this together. Thanks for giving me the chance to do something good.” The kids looked at her in a strange way as they took the food and packed it away. The children didn’t realize all of the ways they were touching lives beyond just the canned goods.

Here at the church, do we really have to be reminded to look out for each other? The Apostle Paul thought so. The New Testament is full of his letters to churches teaching them about important issues like theology, the divinity of Jesus, and communion practices. As Paul closes his letters, he often turns to practical advice on how the faith community, those who believe in Jesus as the Lord, should live and treat each other. What does divine love look like day to day? Paul emphasizes that we need to look out for one another. Being a Christian is not just about me and God. Each of us is a part of the body of Christ and has an important role to play in caring for one another, to build up the entire body. In Galatians Paul writes,

"So let us not grow weary in doing what is right.... So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith." – Galatians 6:9-10

In these strange times when so much is out of our control, what is in our control is our individual expression toward one another. What can we do each day to care for someone? Better yet, what can we do to show love to another person when they don’t even expect it? If Paul was writing today he might have suggested that we send an intentional email of encouragement, leave a small piece of chocolate by someone’s plate, say a prayer for a person and let them know you are praying for them, write a short note of appreciation, invite a neighbor to watch livestream worship or perhaps invite them over for a watching party, give to support the offerings and special offerings that care for others, sit with a friend and really listen to what is happening in his or her life. You can decide your own best way to show love for others. We reach out in love toward others not because we just want to be nice. We love others because our lives have been touched by the love of Jesus Christ. In thanks with compassion, we extend love to our neighbors near and far.

The children sitting under the blue canopy were a visible reminder in our neighborhood of what loving one another looks like. Every time we look toward Westminster Church, the newly painted white steeple inspires us to be a beacon of hope and love to others. Jesus calls us and then we get to go out to shine with the love of the Lord each and every day. What does that mean for you?

Together on the journey,
Louise