Serve

On Monday I posted some suggestions for today's 8th annual recognition of the events of September 11, 2001. I neglected one of the most appropriate ways to commemorate the day.

Serve.

Many people have recommended that we all find a way to do something that helps another human being. This is in the tradition of the thousands of law enforcement persons, fire prevention and public safety persons, military persons, and private citizens who answered the call to respond to the crisis of 9/11, many at the risk and even loss of their own lives. I think this is an invitation to turn this day of tragedy into a day that celebrates the coding buried deep within us that comes from the One whose very nature is an uncommonly sacrificial, grace-driven love. The image of God defines us, stained by our self-driven separation from God as it is. Grace-gifting another person is the God-image in us at work.

On the 26th of this month many Jesus-followers in our area will be involved in a "Mission Blitz," a creative grace-driven service idea pioneered by one of the dynamic churches in our region. Simply put, Jesus-followers will fan out into communities to do acts of grace, with no thought or reward, and no seeking of praise. No strings will be attached; that's what service and grace are all about. Some of the ideas are phenomenally creative....Carrying a roll of quarters to a Laundromat to pay for every one's washing and drying...going to gas stations to pump gas and wash windows, just like full service days...door-to-door collecting of canned food items for food pantries...surrounding schools and praying for students and teachers...cleaning high school stadiums after football games, so custodial personnel won't have to do so...you get the idea.

Serving; without thought of reward, honor, or praise...merely to offer a love so without conditions and measurement that it can only be the frontier of the unimaginable love which is God. That might just make some folks wonder about this Jesus thing. I'll see you around the next bend in the river.