When I was a kid, I would go with my (then) Sunday School teacher to visit all the shut-ins of the church once a week... and I would do little things for them such as dishes, dusting, whatever. As the years went on... I would do more... from gardening and such to cleaning... to running errands. No strings attached... it was just the "right thing to do."
A friend of mine and I were talking a week or so ago... about how things have changed ... even in this little corner of the world. He was talking about a woman who was very active in her church, and had been for years and years... and how this woman had a series of events happen whereby her house was in much need of help... in particular, she had no running water, and her refrigerator had died.. and she had no means to replace it. I asked him if this lady's church had helped her... and he said that he had approached some of the elders of this church, who flat out told him that they couldn't help her. It wasn't that they didn't have the means too... they just refused to on the principal that "then they would have to help everyone."
Somehow I thought that that was the whole point. I realize that these are tough economic times... and that some things are certainly more feasible to do than others... but I would also like to think that if a church had the means and the ability to help it's members... that it would. Perhaps this was a singular event... perhaps there was a misunderstanding... who knows. But it is a sad story. The good point is, that there were some people who didn't even know the woman who did help her out...
And conversely, the opposite can be true. People who really don't need help... who get hand-outs and help to the point where they don't have to do a thing for themselves. Somewhere in there should be a happy medium. It's a hard thing. How do you know who genuinely needs help... and who is just looking for an easy ride?
I suppose that I am certainly not the one to ask. I was burned by formed religion after decades of dedication and service... so perhaps my view is a little askew... but I still have shining hope for the principals of helping each other... of lending a hand when needed... of showing kindness and compassion when you are able. Some churches do fulfill needs in their communities and are shining examples of how to treat each other kindly... some are not.
We have been very blessed since my father's passing... and there is still a grouping of people who continue to call and give a word of cheer... or the occasional hug... or card... long after the "rush" of it all has since passed. These are warm and caring people. Some are old friends, some I don't know well at all...
And in the end I suppose it doesn't matter what "the church" does... we are all called upon to help each other at some point... and we can all choose to "do the right thing" as individuals...
Imagine... one person... helping another person.... who in turn helps a third person... and on and on it goes.....
*photos by Elaine A. Russell