Drip, Drip, Drip

I heard it again. Another 'plop'. Water continues to drip into my family room from the ceiling into a bucket- actually buckets. Our snowy roof is leaking and has created a mess of plaster and drywall.

Its our fault really, we knew our roof was bad, even had the insurance company come out and look at it. They agreed and sent us a check to get it fixed but they made it out to us and our former mortgage company. So we called and told them to send us a new check with our current mortgage company included. We never saw the new check. Then this past month they called and asked why we didn't cash the first check. They had no record of our subsequent call.

So it's partly our fault for not following up and working to get our money and the result now is this incessant dripping sound I hear. It's a reminder that nothing lasts forever, that things break down and fall apart. Same for us as people. My successful surgery a couple days ago is proof that we fall apart as well, and a reminder that we don't last forever either.

Yet like my roof in the near future, we one day will be fixed up as well. But unlike my roof the Carpenter who fixes us does so for an eternity. Now that's a gift worth holding on to. As I sit here writing with a new scar and big ol bandage on my neck I appreciate this gift even more being taught that life is short and we have work to do before our free gift is given to us.

I was thinking about this prior to the big earthquake in Haiti. The Luthran Haiti mission sent out their monthly newsletter and said they needed $18,000 to finish their next orphanage and I wondered if Atonement couldn't contribute to this need- maybe even take on the entire project.

And maybe that sounds absurd but really, what can a group of dedicated Christians accomplish with prayer and focus- even a small group not flush with cash? I remembered what God did with Gideon's army whittling down thousands of men to just a couple hundred to accomplish His purpose. Could the little Atonement army accomplish His purpose of helping the those in need?

James 1:27 says true religion means we are to care for the orphans and widows. We have a clear call to care for those who can't help themselves. A message straight to us short-timers with an eternal promise in our hearts. Let's think about it together and take some action. As I can attest, even drips of action can add up to buckets full of results.

Blest Regards,
Keith