Daily Devotional: My kind of Church

"Some give freely yet grow all the richer; others withhold what is due and only suffer want. A generous person will be enriched, and one who gives water will get water." — Proverbs 11:24-25 NRSVUE

I was new to the Parish. Boxes still littered the halls when the call came.

The woman’s voice said, “Are you the Church that helps people?”

I was hot, tired and a bit disoriented. Thoughts of ill-advised responses flooded my head.

I resisted, instead beginning to say, “All Churches help people…” but I stopped. I recalled a Church where parishioners complained about hungry children coming to a fellowship meal from public housing nearby. Unkind murmurings had been dealt with.

I remembered another Church with an equally disappointing scenario.

So instead, I replied to the caller, “How can we help?”

Not a bad response to anyone who calls on the Church for help.

And yes, we are the Church.

As a colleague reminded me today, “The Church is the Church," wrote Dietrich Bonhoeffer, "only when it exists for others."

Prayer: Lord? You have placed me where I am to help others. Give me eyes to see and ears to hear who can use my help today.

Have faith. It all comes right.

Rev. Dr. Michael Sanders has written books of devotions available at Ken’s Village Market in Indian River and Brewed Awakenings in Saline.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Daily Devotional: My kind of Church