|
From Rev. Brock Patterson
“Do What We Can Do”
“Baby, it’s cold outside!” That is the theme of our collections through Charitable Outreach this month. As I write this article, the temperature is in the mid-50s and it’s cloudy with a strong breeze. As I look outside through my office window, I see walkers on Gulf of Mexico Drive wearing snowsuits, gloves, and pulling toboggans. I think that’s funny. Much of our population claims the northern states as their home, so they should be used to some chilly weather. “Not so much,” they’ll tell me. “That’s why we come to Longboat Key.”
That makes sense. I may not think it’s cold but lots of others have different opinions. Both you and I are blessed with winter clothing, allowing us to make our choices of which coats, sweaters, and hats to wear. It’s easy to forget, however, that many people don’t have any winter clothing, let alone a choice of what to wear. This is the reason that the Chapel puts so much emphasis on working with our local communities to help provide necessities to the people who need them most.
Just across the bridge on our mainland are lots of people who are struggling. The Chapel is pleased to work with many organizations, agencies, schools, and shelters that work directly with people of all ages who need some assistance. It would be a great blessing if everyone had what they needed. It would be a major miracle for all the hungry people in the world to be fed. It would be expected that all school teachers have the supplies they need to do their work in the classroom, but that’s not accurate.
That’s why the Chapel must continue to focus on what we can do; we might not be able to solve world hunger, but we can certainly provide non-perishable food and money to our local food banks that feed hungry people every day. We may not be able to help every teacher in our area, but we can help a few. Our collections, like food (every month), winter clothing (January), and teacher supplies (February), can make a difference.
A hungry child may not sleep well tonight, making it extremely difficult for them to learn in school tomorrow. An unemployed adult who doesn’t have decent winter clothing may not be able to perform well in a job interview, thereby continuing their cycle of bad luck and truly unfortunate circumstances. A teacher who is not properly supplied may not be as effective in the classroom.
However, when we help supply some of these needs within our local communities, the recipients are more able to become the people that God wants them to be.
Whether we are serving as agency directors, thrift store stockers, servers in the food lines, or people who sign checks, our effort makes a difference. How can you help? What can we do together? Let’s do what we can do.
It has been said that “to whom much is given, much is expected” (Luke 12:48). We are God’s Light and we have been given much more than we need. Join us this month at the Chapel, donate a coat or jacket, and be a part of God’s Miracles here in Florida. Baby, It’s Cold Outside…but hearts and lives are warmed by The Light of God as we do what we can do.
See you at The Chapel!
Brock
| 
