Rags to Riches
This past week I had the chance to go to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Churchwide (National) Assembly here near Walt Disney World. I had the pleasure to see some friends from school days long ago, and some new friends from Facebook. I missed a few too. We all said we were doing well, but I lied, and maybe they did too.
There we stood in the richness of polished marble floors, rich vestments and altarware made just for the occasion, georgeous fabric art that made me feel so inspired and copies of icons that reminded us we were citizens of another realm, and all these riches belong to The Other. I am inspired to design some quilt squares with blessings attached! Oh to belong to a church that knows how to enjoy the beauty of art and music that has stood and will stand the test of time.
This quote from Merton reminded me that we are also called to barefooted living among the poorest, too. It was easy to pass approval for programs to fight malaria, or stop bullying, but Merton reminded me of Francis of Assisi, and of Jesus who were living in rags, and sharing those.
I ask myself, rich as I am in the midst of my poverty, how do I share now so that when I get that paying job, and family members get work we will not indulge ourselves but give to others. So I bought a meal to share with the too thin woman on the median, and I will hire someone to paint more of these house quilts with a blessing so I can have them in stock. Got to build this new start of a business, hire the unemployed, reach out and touch someone, let the blessings flow, build communities of trust and care, these will last! This is true rags to riches.
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