Choosing to Help

Choices, choices! Life is all about choices. What shall I order for lunch? Which route home will get me there with the least hassle? What should I preach on next week? How should I spend the next hour? The next fifteen minutes? Whom should I help, and now?

That last question, that last matter of choice, has presented itself to me in very concrete ways during the last few weeks. Because of being the pastor on call for the week-end, or simply being the one available at the office, or the one remembered by the person needing help, I’ve been giving away money from the Pastors’ Fund…not a whole lot at one time, but several small grants.

I confess, with some guilt, that helping the poor and needy is not something I enjoy doing, or do well. I am so grateful for the many church members who truly engage with those who need our help—who get to know them and care about them in a personal way. That is not my gift…but some times that is what I must do. In the last month I’ve directed gifts from the Pastors’ Fund to a woman who was behind on her rent, facing possible eviction; to a man needing a car repair in order to drive back to Galveston to start rebuilding; and to a woman getting money together to avoid having the utilities in her home cut off. Each of them described their hope, and at least the beginning of a plan, for something better.

I doubt that I will ever know if any of those three had their hopes fulfilled, if they made good on their plans. What I do know is that they saw the church as a source of hope and help, and that because of your generosity, I was able to help them, at least in a small way.

When Laurie comes to tell me that someone is asking for a pastor, or asking for me, by name, I always have a choice. I can see that person or not; I can help or not. I’m not really qualified to know who “deserves” our help. I can only remember that our Lord shows up in unexpected places, at inopportune times, in strange garb. I have faith that you want me to help, so I almost always choose to do so.

In these times of financial hardship for many, and uncertainty for just about all of us, I am especially grateful for all the ways this church chooses to help “the least of these.” And I’m trying to get better at it. Today I chose to sit with the woman needing help for a few minutes. I asked her about her family and her future, and her eyes brightened as she told me about her children and her longing to get some training for a better job. I’m glad I made that choice, and I thank you for making it possible!