Blogger: Rachel Kent
Last Saturday, a group from my church went to the areas burned last month by the Valley Fire to help with some of the needs of the community. One group sorted donations at the local Lion’s Club. Another group put up drywall in a home. A third group built a fence to pen in some animals. My group sifted and cleared ashes at a home that was completely destroyed by fire. The house we were working at was approximately 2 miles away from the origin of the fire and everything in the area was touched by the flames. Michelle Ule was in my group, too.
I am so glad I was able to go out and serve in person. I was praying for the people affected by the fire, but to get out there to help, to listen to the stories, to pray with the fire victims, was wonderful on so many levels. It was hard, sobering work, but it felt good to help. I’m hoping to go back to help more soon.
I think as writers, agents, and editors, we tend to lock ourselves up in our offices–working away–and it can be hard to remember to step outside of ourselves to serve the community around us as the hands and feet of Christ. Yes, we serve through writing (agenting and editing), but there are many other ways we can help, too.
Through serving hurting people we can also find so many stories to use–both real and fictional. We can study what real people are like and what they need. It’s one thing to imagine how someone who’s lost everything in a fire would be, but to actually talk with someone and be there with them sifting the ashes gives a better picture of the reality. Getting out of our homes and into the community help those around us, but also helps us to write authentic books that are beneficial to readers.
Yes, continue to pray for others–but is there a way you can serve them in person, too? I’m going to work on taking more time for service.
What are some ways you have been able to help your community?
Michelle has also blogged about our service. Check it out here: http://michelleule.com/2015/10/23/digging-through-an-ash-filled-house/
Good call Rachelle
Thanks, Peter!
The Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) got out and served in person. Thank you, Rachel, for this reminder that we should do likewise.
Thanks, Shirlee! I know I need to do more of this, too. It does feel good to help in Jesus’s name.
Blessings on you and Michelle for your caring hearts! It’s so easy, as an author or agent with infinite to-do lists and limited time, to ignore the burdens of others. This year I decided to throw caution to the winds and commit to one afternoon a week working at the Red Barn, where area middle and high schoolers find a safe, caring after-school environment. It’s like spending four hours in a roomful of 40-60 high-energy tennis balls. But if anything will sweep away the mental and spiritual cobwebs, that will!
Rachael, you reminded me of something from my childhood. For a few years I spent a lot of time at the municipal golf course, along with other kids who really weren’t wanted at home. The card-playing gamblers and drunks looked after us, made sure we took the game seriously, and minded our manners (we NEVER addressed an adult as anything but Mr., Mrs,, or Miss). Once on of the golf pros asked me to get him a pack of cigarettes from the vending machine, and one of the more notorious denizens stopped me, and went with me back to the pro to rip him up one side and down the other for sending a child to buy tobacco.
* Service wears many faces, and sometimes these are not the faces we expect to find…and have previously judged.
Peter, I’m so glad those guys took care of you and the other kids! You are so right–sometimes God uses the most unexpected people to make a huge difference in a life.
[Red face] I mean Andrew! [Really should have edited that comment]
We have a place like that in Santa Rosa, too! What a great place to volunteer. 🙂
Great post, Rachel, and a wonderful way to serve.
* Since I can no longer get out, my community comes to me. We will never turn away a lost and frightened stray dog, and in consequence…well, their needs and schedules run my life (and to a lesser degree Barbara’s, as she’s in the workforce). I sleep in the main kennel area where the special-needs guys are. It’s quite a life, quite a community, and I have received far more than that which I have given.
* My blog is, I suppose, an effort to reach out to a community – it’s become focused on the needs and “care of” caregivers, and seems to have induced some resonance.
* Finally, the aeroplane on which I work on the rare occasions when physical labour of any sort is possible fits a community mission as well. It’s a reproduction of the first fighter aeroplane the Israelis fielded (ironically a variant of the German Messerschmitt 109), and my hope is that one day a Jewish kid will go to an airshow and see an aeroplane with big blue six-pointed stars painted on the sides, and say, “Hey, that’s OURS!”.
Being a Christian writer, I do allow myself some fun with dogs’ names; our latest addition is PITunia JezeBULL; she’s a bit of a whirling dervish whose immense strength is exceeded only by her violently affectionate nature.
* And then, of course, there’s Labby the Labrador (who hitch-hiked from Albuquerque with Barbara), because on that day I could think of nothing else, and neither could Barb.
I love the names. Even Labby. 🙂
Great ways to serve!
God bless your efforts, Rachel! Our church has a Dream Center in Woodlawn (Birmingham) which gives us opportunities to offer free services from medical care to yard work. Volunteer turnout is mind blowing. Those who bless others for the Lord are blessed indeed.
Fire is so devastating. Living where we do, in the cascade mts. we are in danger every summer. Sometimes those we know lose homes, it is a terrible thing. Though I’m glad we don’t have to worry about flood, or earthquake or Mt. Rainier erupting, we do certainly have wildfires. Twice a year we go to a work camp where volunteers come together to get the camp ready for the coming season. We haul firewood and deepclean bunkhouses. It is hard work and sometimes difficult to find a job that I can do with my 3 sons, but as they grow, more jobs are available to us. It is good to get out there and get your hands dirty, serving others.
Beautiful, Rachel. One thing I do is share my own stories … public speaking … and it’s hard for me. Getting up and sharing a book report was hard in grade school … and it’s still hard to stand before a group. But it’s getting easier for me and, wow, is it ever rewarding. It opens the door for those women to share their stories with me … a chance to shed some tears, laugh, and I believe, heal. I’m glad the Lord pushes me out of my comfort zone. Because it’s healing for me, too.
Of course, this does bring to mind the cannibal-chief-turned-Christian who, in the 50s, had to be dissuaded from his first choice of memoir title, which had been “How To Serve Your Fellow Man”.
hee hee 🙂
I love that you did this, Rachel! What a blessing to give to those who lost so much. I also agree that we can be alone too much. I love little kids, so I co-teach our preschool Sunday school class. They are very cute, and I’m honored to share God’s word with them. 🙂
I bet you make an excellent teacher! 🙂
I am hesitant to write this, but it does fit in the theme of community service – the service that the Books and Such staff provides for this community of writers, and the service that my fellow writers provide for one another.
* I stopped breathing for awhile last night. It’s happened before, but this was the most terrifying thing I have ever experienced, because I knew, this time, what was happening. I was brought back to the light by a large and very upset Pit Bull pounding on my chest. It may not happen again, or it may be a harbinger. I don’t know. And I’m scared.
* So, at the risk of being somewhat melodramatic, may I say this – simply, you have made a dark time in life more bearable, and have brought hope to banish doom.
* I love you all, far more than you know, and far more than I can say.
I love you, Andrew. We all love you. It sounds like your Pit Bull gave you CPR. It’s no accident those dogs are in your life. I’m so thankful for these last two years of knowing you … and I pray God gives us many more. And Andrew … I wanted to tell you that this last speaking engagement was so wonderful … for many reasons, but it was my first interactive audience. They’d say things back to me … and I so enjoyed it. Thank you for all your encouragement.
The rescuee becomes the rescuer. Amen.
Shelli, your shining example of faith has strengthened mine when the lights have dimmed, and you have given me courage when the scant amount I have has utterly failed.
* The dogs are indeed a blessing, and Sylvia, who we found dying in a summer field in Texas, has given back so very much. That’s why she is, and will ever remain, the ‘face’ of my blog.
* On this trying day, I’m reminded of the final stanzas of James Elroy Flecker’s poem “The Gates of Damascus”; though it speaks to a Muslim ambience, I think it also speaks to our shared humanity, fears, and hopes. I hope that no one will be offended if I quote it here – line breaks are indicated by dashes, and stanza beaks by ‘**’ –
-God be thy guide from camp to camp: God be thy shade from well to well;
– God grant beneath the desert stars thou hear the Prophet’s camel bell.
**
– And God shall make thy body pure, and give thee knowledge to endure
– This ghost-life’s piercing phantom-pain, and bring thee out to Life again.
**
– And God shall make thy soul a Glass where eighteen thousand aeons pass.
– And thou shalt see the gleaming Worlds as men see dew upon the grass.
**
– And sons of Islam, it may be that thou shalt learn at journey’s end
-Who walks thy garden eve on eve, and bows his head, and calls thee Friend.
Shirlee, yes…kind of reminds me of the cornerstone the builders rejected, but who ever knew a cornerstone could have such vibrant life and love, and a delightfully waggy tail?
Andrew, you add much to this community through your words, wisdom and anecdotes. Thanks for all you give here. You are valued!
Jeanne, thank you so much –
What good I’ve done reflects the seen;
I’ve tried to keep the mirror clean.
I am so sorry you had this happen last night! I’m SO thankful you have such a caring, alert dog.
We are so thankful to have you as part of our community here, too. Love you and your wonderful, thoughtful insights.
I’m glad we are able to bring some hope to you.
My friend, Andrew, your words make me sad. You are a very real presence in this community. I look forward to reading your comments and learning details about subjects I know nothing about. Every day that God gives you is another cause for celebration. It’s actually true for all of us. Each day provides another opportunity, whatever it may bring. “The Lord bless you and keep you. May His face shine upon you.” You are loved. Blessings.
Thank you for the reminder, Rachel, and thank you for being the hands and feet.
Rachel, I loved that you had the opportunity to serve those who have lost everything through the fires there. And you’re right, there something soul-filling about getting out, making eye contact, and serving with our hands and our actions.
*I’ve been in that place where I am working on a book and don’t serve with my hands. I’m trying to remember the value, the filling, the importance of serving in this manner.
*Our church has one day every year where we get as many in our body as possible to go serve in our community. The years we’ve done it with our boys have made for such great shared memories. And having the chance to serve as a family is priceless.
*You’ll enjoy doing this with your daughter when she gets a little older.
I look forward to having my daughter participate! She really wanted to go help clean up the fire damage. She has been praying for all of the people affected by the Valley Fire. It’s very sweet.
We need each other. The whole phenomenon of giving is that in giving we receive. Scripture says those who give will receive. It is a lovely sentiment but also profoundly true. Rachel, it was nice to read about your helpfulness.
More: http://michelleule.com/2015/10/23/digging-through-an-ash-filled-house/
One thing my church does on Communion Sunday is collect grocery bags of food for the Food Bank. The Sunday School kids collect it during announcements and we fill the giant donation box (on wheels) and then shortly after that, we have Communion.
Our pastor started this a few years ago, saying “how can we partake of the Body of Christ without acting like we are, in fact, the Body of Christ?”