Yesterday as I rode the city bus from my home to the stop near EMU, a rainbow blossomed out the window next to me, and by the time I got off it was a full arc across the eastern sky.
As I walked from the bus stop to the music building, I passed CJP and three of its staff standing outside looking upward. We shared short conversations (over the roar of cars passing), and that was nice.
As I walked down College Ave, I passed the Bible & Religion house and called a greeting to three more friendly faces of EMU, also standing outside looking eastward. Yes, I thought to myself, it is good to see familiar faces almost everywhere I go, and to be around people who take the time to notice beauty.
And today, I joined dozens of others to stitch bits of thread and love into comforters bound for MCC relief sites. I loved gathering together with a bunch of gray-haired ladies around this bright-patterned fabric that has already garnered many hours of work and meticulous attention, all for the sake of sending love to our sisters and brothers in other parts of the world. In the words of my wise grandmother, "I don't want to be one who is without compassion." She said this during a brief pause from her hard work today, but her hard work and deeply compassionate service took place not just today, but all year and in fact all her life.
So this week I am glad to be here and with the uncountable members of my many-layered community, which is defined not only by my families and workplaces and churches, but also by our common love for the world. May you also see this in your own community, wherever that may be, and give thanks for your place in a network of love.
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