blessings

We've all  heard stories about communities coming together helping others when something catastrophic happens. They are heart-warming and encouraging... but not really unexpected. It's not difficult to give your time or money or resources to those who have lost everything in a hurricane or fire. But this past week I witnessed a community helping people who are not in the midst of a catastrophic "act of nature," who have clean water, adequate food and are not injured or sick. While I expected there would be "some" help, I was astonished at the over-the-top generosity.

We belong to a smallish church with about 90 regular attenders each week. Many of these people are personally struggling with joblessness and under-employment or cancer and other horrific medical conditions. There never seems to be enough hours in the day to meet the needs of their families.

The church recently had a birthday celebration and as a "birthday gift,"collected non-perishable food and hygiene items to send to deployed soldiers through the Any Soldier program, an organization that connects a group of soldiers with willing supporters. I was in charge of coordinating the Any Soldier boxes and had a goal of sending four or maybe five boxes to a unit of eight men stationed in Afghanistan.

We collected items for just two weeks. This table is 43 inches wide and 72 inches long. Over 115 pounds of food and hygiene items are stacked as high as they will go without toppling over. Instead of four or five boxes, I packed eleven boxes! We sent boxes to our original unit as well as a unit of 30 men also serving in Afghanistan. 

While I was thinking small, God was thinking big. 

Several people told me it was good to focus on the needs of others rather than their own problems. One older gentleman, stooped from age, made several trips to his car to bring his goodies into the church before telling me about his military service decades ago and how much he appreciated the opportunity now to "do something for the boys!" 

The soldiers will be blessed with some comfort foods from home, new toothbrushes (apparently highly coveted items!) and a letter from grateful strangers new friends. But I think we were blessed even more. Our God is so good!!

what's next??

I enjoy reading books on my Kindle. The only down side so far is that you have to turn it off  on planes during take-off and landing. It's during that time that I peruse the SkyMall Magazine to see what outrageous, often humorous items retailers think we cannot live without. This quest not only distracts me during the most vulnerable times of a flight, it also allows me to contemplate the state of our society.

On a recent flight I was... intrigued... bewildered ... aghast... and appalled by a very aptly-named clothing item - a pillow tie! 

For only $19.95 plus $7.25 for shipping/handling, you can order an inflatable tie made of microfiber/silk in your choice of black, maroon or blue as the dominant color (patterns vary). And what, you ask, does one need an inflatable tie for?

I'm curious about the "most functions that require a necktie deserve to be slept through" part of their advertising. Would that be meetings with your boss and/or customers? Or perhaps that very special, romantic birthday dinner with your wife? A wedding? A funeral? Accepting the Nobel Peace Prize? The only tie-requiring events I could come up with that a guy might want to sleep through were the opera and a ballet- but that hardly qualifies as "most." 

Ahhh... I get it! It's a gag gift! Well, not really, according to the reviews posted online. "This is a great buy ... stylish ... I've had several compliments from friends and family... stain-resistant fabric is awesome... attractive ... extremely comfortable ... looks good" and the accolades go on and on. 

I'm not sure which bothers me most- that people buy it or that guys actually wear (and use!!) it.