Where I Live: Can I Pray for You?

Dear friend and congregant Laura had to go to the emergency room the other day.  She was having some pretty scary and painful symptoms, so her husband Les (also a pastor) had called the rescue squad to come.

Almost as soon as Les hung up the phone, there was Craig at their door.

Craig isn’t with the rescue squad – he’s a volunteer fireman.  But when he heard the call, he went, just to see if he could help.  While they waited, Craig moved some furniture out of the way to make it easier for the squad to get in and out once they arrived.

And then he sat beside Laura and asked her if she minded if he prayed for her.

She didn’t.

And he did.

Simple as that.

Where I live, when the call goes out, friends and neighbors come just to see if they can help.

And they stay to pray.  Sometimes they even do it out loud.

And it is good.

I'm on Craig's List

Living in the country, being on my own and older now and being the preacher, I am the recipient of many random acts of kindness, although they aren’t really that random, especially this time of year.

It’s harvest time in the mountains.  Cucumbers are about done, and so are zuccinis.  But there’s still lots of squash and tomatoes and peppers.

You might be tempted to think I am a gardener.  But I’m not.

What I am is the beneficial recipient of the fruits of the labors of others.  Neighbors, friends and congregants will drop off at the odd time various vegetables from their gardens.  I am so grateful to them all – for thinking of me and including me.

One of my ‘angels’ is Craig Smith.  Craig always (so he claims) has more food from his garden than he and Belinda can use.  And so he comes by every so often to the neighbors with buckets filled with goodies that we get to pick through, taking what we can use.

We both spent our morning, Craig and I and lots of others, at Edna Mae’s funeral.  I came back to the computer and Craig to his garden.  And so here he came again, this time with green and jalapeno peppers added to the largesse.

I don’t know how I got on Craig’s list (I didn’t have to sign up or enter a password or anything – all I had to do was be here), but I’m sure glad I did – glad to have such kind neighbors.  Craig’s the kind of guy who would keep Edna Mae stocked with fire wood.  No fuss, just kindness.  That’s how the folks around here are.  No fuss.  Just a lot of kindness.