A night of service

I was chatting with a friend about something Paige and I did this past week.  “You took your 8 year old where?” They asked.  The “where” in question was under the Burnside bridge on Thursday night to a program called Night Strike.  Hundreds of volunteers from a variety of faith communities gather to serve and converse with hundreds of homeless and low income folks every week.  We went there to participate with a few other folks from our new Sellwood faith community.  Paige and I spent the evening sorting garbage/recycling and chatting with folks.  It was a great, if slightly smelly, night! 
I realized that for the person asking the question, where P and I spent our Thursday night was unusual.  Not all kids are immersed in food banks, soup kitchens and community meals.  Wouldn’t it be great if they were?  I know that both Eilidh and I have benefited and been shaped by early experiences in just these kinds of settings and it is part of what we want for Paige.  I believe that we are all called and equipped with gifts to serve others.  Part of the function of who I am called to be as an ordained Deacon is to help people match their gifts with the needs of the world.  At the end of the night I asked Paige what she thought.  She said, “I had fun but I liked the Oregon Food Bank better.”  That’s where we will probably go next time.  Maybe she can bring a friend. 
Jeff  Lowery