An Army Descends
June 22, 2012
They came in droves.
Cars pulled up on the grass at
the side of the road, or turned into an abandoned gas station across the
street. Moms with kids, dads with sons, single college students, and teens on
bikes. In ninety-degree weather with sweat beading across faces and arms, they
marched up and down the Uhaul ramp, carrying cardboard boxes and bed-frames. I
stood in the center of the garage, scanning the boxes for black permanent marker
codes, and directing traffic. “Master bedroom? Upstairs, on the kitchen and dining
floor, please.” “School books? Garage for now, thanks.”
the side of the road, or turned into an abandoned gas station across the
street. Moms with kids, dads with sons, single college students, and teens on
bikes. In ninety-degree weather with sweat beading across faces and arms, they
marched up and down the Uhaul ramp, carrying cardboard boxes and bed-frames. I
stood in the center of the garage, scanning the boxes for black permanent marker
codes, and directing traffic. “Master bedroom? Upstairs, on the kitchen and dining
floor, please.” “School books? Garage for now, thanks.”
In the kitchen a crew plungered our plugged up sink,
scoured counters, and scraped old grease off cabinets with razors. In the bathrooms,
they shined our faucets and scrubbed shower walls. Teens vacuumed the stained
carpets in preparation for a carpet contractor from church, and other students
wiped windows with rag socks, or perched on dressers to reach ceiling fans.
scoured counters, and scraped old grease off cabinets with razors. In the bathrooms,
they shined our faucets and scrubbed shower walls. Teens vacuumed the stained
carpets in preparation for a carpet contractor from church, and other students
wiped windows with rag socks, or perched on dressers to reach ceiling fans.
“I’ll
take Daniel to the park,” said another friend, whisking my preschooler away to
swim and slide with minis.
take Daniel to the park,” said another friend, whisking my preschooler away to
swim and slide with minis.
Earlier than scheduled the Uhaul was unloaded, and
more friends dropped by with sloppy joes to feed an army. The army ate.
Sprawled in the grass in the shade from the deck, we caught the breeze and
refueled. Sweat glistened, and water bottle carcasses lined up in ecological nightmares.
more friends dropped by with sloppy joes to feed an army. The army ate.
Sprawled in the grass in the shade from the deck, we caught the breeze and
refueled. Sweat glistened, and water bottle carcasses lined up in ecological nightmares.
“Do you have
supper plans for tomorrow?” another friend asked. “I’ll bring tacos.”
supper plans for tomorrow?” another friend asked. “I’ll bring tacos.”
“We have dressers and desks for you, if you are
interested,” said a father and sons. Other friends held onto and stored a loft
bed set for one of our kids for ten months, and offered us a t.v.
interested,” said a father and sons. Other friends held onto and stored a loft
bed set for one of our kids for ten months, and offered us a t.v.
That night, we fell asleep on drying carpet, in our
new home, overwhelmed at God’s extravagant care for us, and the humbling,
amazing love of his system – the church body. Without the constraints of a
church building’s walls, Jesus-followers from all corners of our
lives came together and showered love on us.
new home, overwhelmed at God’s extravagant care for us, and the humbling,
amazing love of his system – the church body. Without the constraints of a
church building’s walls, Jesus-followers from all corners of our
lives came together and showered love on us.
We are still humbled, stunned, and
thankful to our God for his care.
thankful to our God for his care.
I am amazed at the way God’s people can come together in love.
What about you? When have you felt tangible community? When have you not?
This is the BIG day, the day that the Lord has made.
I'm so happy for you, Jen…. If I were there, I would have been an extra pair of hands.
I couldn't wait to see the who picture of the house.
And praise God for His angels with feet and no wings…. they sure make the move easier and more fun.
GBU in your new dwelling!
Hi Lolita. I can just imagine you jumping in to help. Thank you.
Jennifer
jenniferdougan.com
I would have jumped in there too…well I don't jump anymore…
Beautiful to watch the body of Christ do their thing isn't it…beautiful…
Thanks for making it over to my site…Blessings
tangible community…yes…when we lived in MD we had the most amazing small group…have never experienced anything else like it…every one of them had such wonderful hearts for each other and the world…
Betty,
Thank you. Yes, it is SO emotionally-moving to see the family of Jesus work in love. It was beautiful and humbling.
Have a great day.
Jennifer
jenniferdougan.com
Brian,
Tangible community is a treasure – that's for sure. Have you not found another small group at all, or just none like the one in MD?
Thanks for stopping by.
Jennifer
jenniferdougan.com
oh friend. this made me amazed, at God's providence. i'm so happy for you.
Thank you, Emily, for rejoicing with us! Our Abba amazes us too. 🙂
Jennifer
jenniferdougan.com
What a blessing to have such friends. Glad you have the move behind you!
Thank you, Cheryl. Yes, we felt so blessed and humbled.
Jennifer
jenniferdougan.com