Kindness in Our Community

There are times that move swiftly….

This is one of those seasons for me. I have letters I haven’t answered and my filing is piled up. It’s an enjoyable fullness: our church’s Lenten kindness challenge; my upcoming installation as the settled pastor; an upcoming “Kirkin’ ‘O the Tartans” service on Tartan Day, April 6, to honor family heritage and peaceful unions; Holy Week; then three weeks working in Uganda, which I look forward to writing and blogging about later. Shew….

This morning the sun lit up my daughter’s face as she lay sleeping. Amidst hustle and bustle, I pray God will cause me to pause frequently to see what matters most. I want to treasure the kindnesses bestowed on me and there have been great ones touching my soul this past week. A young woman hung out with me, helping me, and sharing not only her time, but letting me get to know her; an older couple told me an amazing story of how they met on the dance floor 52 years ago doing a raucous jitterbug, with the lady doing the splits across the floor. Priceless. She’s 92 years old, but I can see her youthfulness and sparkle in her husband’s eye. I am so grateful for new friends I am meeting. I am so grateful to become part of the Tehachapi community.

I don’t have much to say this time. Gratitude is the word pushing away all others.

Dr. Chuck Wall, from the Kindness Institute spoke at our church about our hunger for positive caring acts in our world. He is totally blind and his hobby is to make ceramic bowls. Some of his bowls don’t turn out perfect when they are fired, but he asked if our church would care to use them for our Friday soup suppers during our kindness challenge. As I hold the bowl he gave me, I think of his spirit strengthening me and my kindness journey. If you’d like to come and be fed, literally and figuratively, from the bowls and words of a great kindness mentor, we will eat at 5:30 p.m. of Fridays during Lent, while practicing “Kindness in Our Community.” Blessings to you!