In youth group, we used to talk a lot about “divine appointments” and I noticed how often my interactions with people really seemed to have a bigger purpose. Things weren’t just coincidences. I have to admit, that in the last few years, I’ve gotten leary of that kind of language, and so haven’t thought about things in those kinds of spiritual terms. But I also noticed that when I stopped looking for it specifically, it seemed to stop happening.

Well, this afternoon I had a conversation that really could not be described any other way. So get out your hankies, because I’m about to testify! As with most of my stories, it will take a minute to get there, so hang with me …

Our ServeFest projects last Saturday required a LOT of different tools. Most we brought with us, but a few belonged to the neighbors we served. Most made it back to the right person the same day, but unfortunately Miss Diane’s hedge trimmers wound up in someone’s car. No problem – I can take them back to her. I need to buy some Avon from her anyway. We decide that Tuesday evening will be good for both of us.

Well, Tuesday morning rolls around and I feel AWFUL. The week leading up to the outreach I’d had one of those headaches where it hurts if you look too far to one side or the other. Denise told me that was sinus pressure, but I didn’t think much of it because generally I don’t have sinus trouble. By Monday, the pressure was gone, but my throat hurt. And by Tuesday at noon, the doctor was writing me a prescription for an antibiotic to treat my sinus infection. I called Miss Diane to say that I couldn’t come meet her that night.

Then, on Wednesday, Miss Christine called to tell me that the bags of yard waste in the alley behind her house had not been picked up. And she had called the city and been told that they would not be picked up unless they were moved to the front of her house (where I was betting they STILL wouldn’t be picked up because her street is all blocked off due to construction, so I doubt any big trucks are getting through). Now, we do our job all the way, so I promised her we would take care of it. And I fully intended to, but …

Things started to get away from me last week, between the sinus infection, getting ready to leave town, and the sprained ankle. When I finally got back to business today I realized we still hadn’t taken care of that yard waste. So I frantically contacted Wendell who assured me we could take care of it tonight.

Perfect. And since we’ll be in the neighborhood, I’ll go about half an hour early and take Miss Diane’s hedge trimmers back to her. I left a message for Miss Christine to let her know we were going to take care of the bags, and headed to Miss Diane’s.

Well, as I arrive, I realize that Wendell is parked right in front of me at Miss Diane’s. Of course I wonder why he’s here 1) so early and 2) at Miss Diane’s instead of Miss Christine’s. But whatever. He goes with me to Miss Diane’s (because we both really enjoy her) and she invites us in as she finishes a phone conversation in the kitchen.

She walks back into the living room, crying, grabs both of our hands and says, “Oh Jesus, we need to pray!” Now we knew that she was concerned about some situations with her family, but it was more serious than we realized, and this evening she was very upset about it. So she talked with us for a while and then we really prayed for God’s will to be done in everything that concerned her.

When we get to Miss Christine’s, we find no yard waste. The alley is clean; even the dumpsters aren’t full. I tried to call her again, and this time she answers and says that apparently it was picked up on Friday or Saturday.

So … really, I’m convinced that the only reason we were supposed to go today was to be with Miss Diane. Because God knew what she needed. And (shocking) that was me and Wendell. I’m always blown away by realizations like that.

I think I’ll start putting a little more effort into looking at my life as more than just a series of chance encounters. It’s a lot more meaningful when you see a bigger purpose even in the little things you do.

(“Mmmmmm!!!! Amen!”)

I’m so glad to be bringing you a good report of the activities of Continuum Church’s first birthday! We had high expectations for the weekend, but I have to say that things went even better than we had hoped.

Last Saturday a group of us met in the Kroger parking lot at 9:30 a.m. to divide into our teams for ServeFest. It was chilly, but sunny, and we knew it would warm up later on. While in the parking lot we were approached twice by people who wanted to know what we were doing standing around in such a big group!

We had five worksites that day: the homes of Betty T., Diane D., Anthony D., Christine H. and Gayle H.. Each site had totally different tasks to be done, required different kinds of tools, and would take different amount of time. I had originally thought we could be finished with everything by 12 noon, but that didn’t turn out to be the case. Everyone stayed for as long as they could, and we finished almost everything we’d set out to do. On the follow up surveys, the top responses for “favorite part of the event” were the reactions from the homeowners, and the opportunity to serve with other Continuum people. I know that as God continues to grow our congregation, these service projects will be an integral part of building community. Nothing brings people together like hard work!

Here are some before and after shots of cleaning out a wild tangle of brush in the parking area behind Ms. Christine’s house.

Brush tangle: Before

That team faced huge bushes, a wire fence tangled up in the bushes, metal poles sunk deep in the ground … and an infestation of spiders! But they did an amazing job …

Brush tangle: After

Ms. Christine had been gone all morning, but arrived home before the team left. She was overwhelmed with what they were able to accomplish and told them that area hadn’t been so clean since she was a little girl.

Sunday morning was just as good. We had several different elements in our service, including one of our members receiving her ministerial credentials, hearing from our district executive secretary, an interview between Adam and Kathryn Dove (one of our members), and communion. I loved all of it. I also had the opportunity to share about the ServeFest project the day before, but even more just about the mission of Continuum. Adam had set it up perfectly with what he shared right before I came up, and I was able to follow up by talking about why our work is so important and where we’re headed in the future.

Adam’s interview with Kathryn was moving. She came to Continuum from Adam and Jenna’s previous church, where she had grown up. She shared very openly about her journey of faith. Some of the language we use at Continuum, and the concepts we present, are different than what you might hear at other churches. Kathryn celebrated the opportunity to ask the hard questions and be OK with not knowing all the answers. She said that she shares her faith more than she ever has before because of what we’re learning together.

After church we had lunch together in Kathryn’s grandmother’s home. People stayed for hours, eating and talking and getting to know each other better. At one point, everyone gathered outside, and Adam, Jenna and I were called to the front. Wendell and Kathryn were holding big gift bags, and Wendell said some very nice things about the three of us and the work we’re doing. Apparently, it was also Pastor Appreciation Sunday! Can I just tell you how weird it was for me to be on the receiving end of that?! Surreal, but nice. The gift bags contained cards from everyone, and I’m overwhelmed by the kindness. I know that I’m doing what God has called me to do, so it doesn’t (usually) feel like a huge sacrifice or service to me. But it’s nice to know that what you do is appreciated.

There were many points during the weekend when I was amazed by what God has done here in the last year, and since I arrived in February. It’s been incredible, and yet I know it’s just the beginning. Thank you all for what you’ve done to make this possible. I wish you could all have been here to celebrate with us, because without you, it wouldn’t have happened.

I’ve tried. I really have. My family has owned dogs. And other people have dogs that I like … a little. But today has finished me forever I think.

The family I live with has two dogs, Buster and Bandit. They are both small and pretty well behaved. Of course they have a few bad habits, but overall they are cute, and they were even starting to grow on me a little bit. I admit, when everyone else is gone, I have even been known to let them sleep on my bed.

However, Bandit is very small. Very fluffy, but he has a small body. And he loves to run. So if he manages to get out of the fenced backyard – game on. A couple months ago we found that he could fit through the bars of the deck, so that is now covered with netting.

So today, I came home from Curves later than normal because another staff member had a family emergency so I filled in for a while. I let the dogs out as I always do, making sure the gates were closed. A few minutes later I stepped to the kitchen window and noticed Bandit OUTSIDE THE YARD. And I’m ticked, because this is not going to be easy. And these aren’t my dogs, so I really don’t care that much. But of course I go out to get him. And he runs.

So I chase him all the way to the park where he is enthralled with two dogs on leashes. The owner is clearly a dog-person (she has TWO fairly large ones!) and of course she wants to help. So she’s trying to keep her smaller vicious dog from biting Bandit (not sure I would really care) while Bandit and her giant dog stand nose to nose. We continue to circle around with me darting in to try to grab Bandit, who, in case I haven’t mentioned is very fast, small and tricksy.

It’s a lovely fall day here in the park and the wet grass is littered with walnuts. At just the right moment, my left foot finds a walnut instead of solid ground, and down I go. The weak ankle has struck again, turned a direction that ankles are not supposed to turn and I’m on hands and knees on the ground. It is immediately obvious that I can’t even really bear my own weight on this ankle, much less chase a dog. So now, despite my attempt to shake it off, I’m drawing a lot of attention from the rest of the moms and kids and dog-people.

Finally, tenderhearted Bandit makes the mistake of getting close enough to me to find out what’s wrong and I grab him. With the bravest front I can muster, I thank Nice Dog Lady and begin limping my way home. And I’m sure I look fabulous: in workout clothes, no makeup, bad hair, limping, crying and carrying a dog.

So now here I am. I’m sitting in my room with my foot propped up on the bed and ice around the ankle. It hurts like mad. Like I think it might make me crazy if it doesn’t stop. And my ankle, foot and halfway up my calf have swollen to the size of a Bradford pear tree trunk. Which seems appropriate since this ankle is about as weak as one of those limbs in a Missouri spring storm.

In short – no dog is worth this. Period.