The Need

I spent last weekend in Chicago learning from people who are serving the Lord in the city.  While it was painful to be surrounded with so much brokenness and need, it was also exhilarating to see so many faithful people giving their lives to serve "the least of these".

I came home ignited with passion to serve hurting people living right here in my community.

Confession:  It has always been easy for me to see the needs around the world that are so obvious- the starving, the orphan, the materially poor.  Not as obvious to me are the seriously wounded people living right here in my community- the addict, the fatherless, the spiritually poor.

Last Monday I walked around Aurora asking God to open my eyes to the needs right in front of me.  And did He!  I met two homeless people.  I got a call from Safe Families asking if we could host some children from Aurora who are homeless.  I saw a huge line of people waiting for the food bank to open.  I got a call asking me if I would open my home to some refugee women who want to learn about making home livable and safe for their children.

Lord, what do I do with all this need?

One thing I learned last weekend that has been echoing in my brain ever since is that "the need is not the call".

My spiritual gifting is mercy.  It is easy for me to see a need and to have my heart moved by it.  And yet practically speaking, there is only so much I can do to meet those needs.

Now begins the work of getting quiet with the Lord and asking Him to show me what it is He is actually asking me to do.

 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it:  Love your neighbor as yourself".  Matthew 22:37-40