Thank God for the Bags

The TV images are riveting: the rolling waves swamping people'’s homes, beams of houses turned into matchsticks, toys covered in seas of mud, a tattered Polaroid picture of a
family in happier times, the tears at lives lost or destroyed. The levies in New Orleans just broke again. Interstates in Texas are virtual parking lots as Rita bears down behind them. It reminds me of the Israelites fleeing Egypt with the Egyptians behind them and the Red Sea in front of them. The folks in traffic are waiting for the seas to part.

Meanwhile the rest of us watch, wait, wonder. My fear is that the novelty of helping is wearing off. The tune of talk radio in the area has turned from that of compassion to that of criticism, not of the government, but of the victims.

I think many folks are suffering from compassion fatigue. It'’s not unlike eating a big meal and needing to push away from the table because we can't eat any more. Or it is like, now the new puppy that is making too many messes, has chewed too many shoes, and has takes more care than we thought, we want to take it back. For many helping others is no longer a novelty, it has turned into work, that drags on and on. It is like the clothing that is piled up in the warehouse, it never goes away.

God is now beginning to teach me some stuff from the bags of clothing, that pile used to bother me because it never goes away. Now I think that God keeps the pile there for the following reasons:

• That God is bigger than we can even imagine
• That God's provision is more than enough
• That God is bigger than the storms in life that we find ourselves in
• It reminds us that our work is never done
• It gives us a picture of God's grace, something without end
  
• It reminds me that people need to give and want to help, every bag no matter how bad the stuff is in them was given to help someone else
• The stained and buttonless clothing reminds me that many who gave the clothing are living the same way stained and broken
• I also know that the junk we have to throw away may be things that givers can't throw away for one reason or another, giving freedom
  
• God reminded me today that some---not all-- of the stained and smelly clothing could have been the best that some could give
  
• I am reminded that the goal is not to be done, put to continue to work
• I think the bags of clothing reminds others that there is a need to help out
• If all of the bags were gone then those on tours or even those working might believe the work is done
• Maybe God wants to remind us that the work of compassion needs to expand to those in our community in need
  

After Katrina, we have Rita and after Rita we will need to address issues in our own community-- homelessness, poverty and racism to name a few. I am now thanking God for the piles of clothing, asking God to continue to teach me more lessons. Maybe we need to pray for each bag for those that gave it and those who will receive it. What positive lessons are you learning from the clothing? Perhaps, this is something to talk about while we are going through piles of clothing.

Scripture:Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (And if we do become weary take a break, some time off and remember the words of Jesus)

Matthew 11:28
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Thought: Make sure you rest and then roll up your sleeves to do your best for Jesus.