Once a month, some Christian friends and I go to Open Door to help out. On Thurs night, they serve food to anyone who wants it. The tiny room is usually packed with hungry parents, elderly and kids.
For the past two months, I was in charge of organizing games after they had dinner. These past weeks, it had been busy with work and the week prior too I was feeling stress from organizing.
In fact, leading up to Open Door on Thursday, that’s all I thought about. Gotta do this. Gotta do that.
On Thurs, I went to Square One earlier. I spent five minutes sitting and reflecting on Open Door. I calm myself and reminded that I am here to serve and to get to know my community.
Before the games, they were having a dinner. I was standing on the side as another group served. The place is always pack. Someone finish a meal early and left. I was thinking, would Jesus stand by the corner, play a game and leave? No way. That’s program thinking. That’s not serving or caring.
Taking hold of the opportunity, I went and sat down. I start mingle with the people on my table. Just talk about this and that. I even had a meal with them.
…we latter played Bingo and everyone left with a price (Timmies Gift Certificate). IT was goooood times.
I looked and wondered where i was thinking prior to that night. All the time spent on ‘organizing’ …in the end what people need is someone to talk and share life.
Oh how often I forgot about that and focus purely on the program.