"Come and Sit"

 

When I was a youth director, we spent a week out of the summer running a sleep over retreat out of the church. The youth would come for a week and sleep on the floor of the various open ministry rooms, eat together each day and worship each night before bed. In between we would serve the community around us. 

This looked different each day. We might head over to the local food bank and help them to organize the food. Another day we might help with a project that needed to be done at someone’s house or at a local school. Our schedule was packed and each day we would wake up early and go to bed late filled with a feeling of accomplishment. 

I remember one of the projects so well to this day because it has helped me since then in my perspective of ministry.

Many times, we have projects or tasks to complete when we are involved in ministry. When we look around there is a great deal of need in our communities. People need help with all kind of things. 

During our week-long camp with youth group there was a day during the week when we would go to a local neighborhood to help the residents with yard work. This was an older community filled with many people who were not physically able to complete the physical upkeep around their homes. We would show up with young, strong, full of energy teens and get things done in a short amount of time.

I remember the first year I took part in this camp was before I worked as the youth director. I volunteered to be a group leader and spent the week in service with the kids I was assigned to. 

On one particular day I noticed it was the day we would go to this neighborhood to do yard work. The youth director of the time spoke to us that morning and gave us some advice. 

She said when we go to this neighborhood there will be lists of things that the people requested get done, but that when we get there, they may not really want us to do those things.

I didn’t know what she meant at first, but I realized as she continued. “Many of the people in this community do not have family and more than having their hedges cut may simply want you to sit and talk with them. If they ask you to sit and talk….sit and talk.”

When we arrived at our very first house that day we were greeted by a very sweet lady on her front porch. Her face beamed as we poured out of our van ready to get started. Weeding, raking, bush trimming and planting were on our list of to dos at this particular house. We got started as this sweet smiling lady went back into her home.

Just a few moments later she was outside again with a large tray in her hand. On the tray was lemonade and some of the best baked goods I have ever seen! She let us know she had spent the previous day in preparation for our arrival. She put the refreshments and snacks down on the patio table and invited us all to “come and sit” and join her for a “visit”.

The kids all looked uncertain; as they had not completed even a fraction of the tasks at hand. They looked at me for guidance and I waved them all over smiling as I remembered our wise youth director’s words that morning. “Many of the people in this community do not have family and more than having their hedges cut …they may simply want you to just sit and talk with them. If they ask you to sit and talk…sit and talk.”

We learned that this precious woman had no children. She was the youngest and only living person of her siblings and so had no family connections at all. Her life had been built around friendships she made in this community. She began to share with us her life growing up and some of the adventures she had. 

The kids all gathered around and between bites of cookies and swigs of lemonade asked questions and engaged in conversation. There was allot of laughter, good stories and friendship.

As time seemed to get away from us, we realized we hadn’t gotten much of her yard request completed. She just laughed and said “Oh you’ve helped me more than you know”.

There were hugs exchanged and goodbyes said as we loaded back in our van to head to our next project.

As we often did when we got back into the van, we shared our experience. One of the kids in the group said “Her yard wasn’t really in bad shape…I don’t think she really signed up to have us do yard work….I think she’s just lonely.”

“Yes!” replied another youth, “She really just wanted us to hang out with her and that was so much fun!”

Another student said with tears in her eyes “She reminded me of my grandma.”

As I heard this exchange, I realized the true meaning of “service”.

When we serve…really serve each other we connect with each other. In that time of service, it’s not always so much about the task that we’re set on completing. More often than not its about the connections and relationships we make in the midst of the task.

This to me was an example of our Christian walk and a reminder to pay attention to how we serve. Are we just task oriented or do we truly “see” the people we’re serving. Do we focus too closely on the task that we miss opportunities for connection.

If the youth director hadn’t reminded us that morning what was important, we might have believed it was more helpful to continue cutting the bushes than stepping into the invitation this sweet lady gave us. "Come and sit."

May we remember to “Come and sit” as well as “serve”.

May we remember that “time” spent can be more powerful than a “task” met.

May we always appreciate the importance of our listening ears as well as our helpful hands.

Remember to “come and sit”

-Pastor Patti