Where is it?

This whole thing started the other day…now, I can’t get this off my mind. It is all I can think about. Completely consuming my thoughts.

Where is the church?

On Monday, I went with my dad and sister to my grandmother’s to build a fence. Yes, build a fence in the 100-degree Texas heat. After a long (and I mean extremely long) day of working and building this fence, I was exhausted. My whole body hurt. The only thing I could think about was a nice shower. I just wanted to be clean and cool.

Right before we left my nana’s my mom called. She said we didn’t have water. A construction crew had hit a water line and the water wouldn’t be back on for 2-4 hours.

My world stopped. I thought I might die. Literally.

Then my mom proceed to tell me that for the next 2 days we would have to boil the water before drinking it or cooking with it.

Again, I thought I might die.

After pouting about not having water for a while and the whole car ride home, I realized something. I realized first that I had not said any thanks for anything all day. (That story, about saying thanks, will come soon. Get pumped!) Second, I realized that I was being so selfish. I’m sure you could tell that too.

There are people half way around the world that have never had clean water. Never. Their entire life. They’ve never bathed in clean water or even drank clean water. I have never spent one day without clean water.

I can’t imagine the idea of not having a constant supply of water.

Try to imagine having to walk miles to even get your water. Then when you do get it, the water is gross. Filled with bacteria that will make you sick.

I wonder if they know? But even if they do know that it can harm them, they don’t really have a choice.

It breaks my heart. It hurts my heart that people don’t have clean water. But then I started thinking of the people here. Right here beside me in East Texas.

When I got home from my nana’s my mom told me a story. Early that day she had gone to Tyler to a doctor’s appointment. Across the street from the office is a city park with a splash pad for kids to play in.

She said as she drove by she noticed a lady on the splash pad. This lady had on a dress but had it pulled up so that the water could clean/cool her.

Now, I don’t know if this lady was crazy or if she really needed a place to get clean or cool. My heart just broke when my mom told the story.

So next story that has caused my mind to stop thinking any thing else other then: Where is the church?

On Sunday I was in Academy with my family buying new Ranger shirts. I needed a new Ranger shirt like I needed a hole in my head. But I was there buying one.

We noticed commotion at the front of the store with the manger and two guy employees. The two guys said they found six Nike shoeboxes in the dressing room. All different sizes, kids to adult. But when they looked inside, they found old, dirty, smelly shoes instead of the Nikes.

Apparently, a family had come in wearing their old shoes and walked out with the new shoes on their feet.

They might have stolen shoes, yes. I’m not saying what they did was right. But I just kept thinking over and over what if that was the only way they could get their children shoes. That could have been the only way to get shoes.

So this is where my mind has been: Where is the church? Where is it?

Aren’t we called to care for the orphans, widows, and poor? I can’t think of a time when Jesus tells us to go check on the wealthy. But I can think of NUMEROUS times when caring for the poor is brought up.

Where is the church?

Where is the church caring for the lady who doesn’t have water to shower in? Where is the church in providing shoes to a family?

Are we picking out new carpet and chairs for the sanctuary because they don’t match after the latest renovation? Are we making sure the lights on stage change colors during certain times during the songs in worship? Are we planning the next Sunday School get together that will include more food then people? Where is the church?

I’m not saying that these things are bad. I’m just concerned that the church (not a building but the body of Christ) gets way to self-consumed.

James 1:27 just constantly comes to my mind when I think “where is the church.” It says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

Then on Wednesday when I was spending much need time with DBarr, the question come up. We were talking about what we are each feeling called to after graduation. I hadn’t even told her about what I was thinking.

She took the words out of my mouth. She looked at me and asked, “Where is the church?”

So beautiful that two friends who haven’t seen each other in two months can be on the same page!

I don’t know what I need to do. I don’t know what we need to do. The church is needed. There are needs here. Now.

Obedience is the only answer.