Growth

 

by Kristen Zimmann

He turned the rock into a pool.
He turned the hard rock into springs of water.          –Psalm 114:8

About once a week, a sweet voice calls through the door that connects my house to my Mom, Joyce’s house – “Will you please mail a card for me?” As I take them to the mailbox, I always feel like I’m holding a piece of love. In my head, I call them “love-drops.” Better than a gumdrop, it’s a physical piece of the love of Jesus dropped into someone’s life. It’s a card of encouragement or empathy or shared joy, and quite surely, blessed is the recipient.

One of the themes that could be selected for these devotions was “Growth of the Church.” How does a church grow? What does that growth look like? What does it have to do with the members? As I pondered Epiphany through the lens of growth, a vision started at the top tier – the church as an organization, the staff, the committees, the programs, the worship – all the machinery. But that tier quickly faded, and the vision was replaced with individuals – with a memory of someone digging in the flowerbed outside Epiphany’s door, planting something, and taking a moment to just say hi and smile at me – a “kindness-drop.” And then there was the woman who was driving by as I was walking in one day, who got out of her car and hugged me so hard she actually lifted me off the ground (no easy feat, she’s half my size!) – a “joy-drop.” And I thought of the Epiphany member who turned around in the pew and said “How are you?” in a voice graced with an invitation to answer honestly, not just say “Fine” – a “compassion-drop.” And someone taking the time to write to me and telling me they understood the pain I was experiencing as a parent and saying the exact words I needed to hear – “you are strong” – an “empathy-drop.” I’ve been in the prayer room with people laying hands on me and crying with me – precious “tear-drops.” And, of course, the sweet lady, my dear mom, who mails cards, those “love-drops.”

These stories are so prevalent in Epiphany’s daily life! And these are just my stories-imagine how many more if we all shared?

Stand aside in the Gathering Space one day and watch. Take in the sweet, sweet Spirit in this place! The growth is happening from the people UP to the awesome machinery of the organization. It’s the Fruit of the Spirit manifesting in a touch, a word, a helping hand-one person at a time-modeling our Risen Christ, our example of Perfect Love who took our heart of stone and turned it into a spring of water!

Prayer
Risen Christ, as we allow You to turn our hearts of stone into springs of water, help us pour that Spirit-infused water over those You bring onto our paths, and bless the efforts of growth for Epiphany. Amen.

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