Tag: community

When Did I Get So Nosy?

By Kathy Pollard

While on the zero turn mower, Neal’s phone slipped out of his pocket and bit the dust. So the next day (Sunday) we spent ALL afternoon at T-Mobile. While waiting, I found myself listening in on conversations, observing the manager and sales associates, and even discovering the key code to the “employees only” room. I would share these various things with Neal.

“Hey, I can get us in that back room. I know what the code is!”

“They ordered 2 pepperoni pizzas for lunch. Our guy is missing out because this is taking so long.”

“Ha, did you hear what that lady said…”

Neal finally raised an eyebrow at me and said, “You’re really into this, aren’t you?” I just shrugged but did start to wonder why I was blatantly eavesdropping and not minding my own business.

It didn’t take long before it dawned on me. I didn’t have my phone. The guy helping us had both of our phones in his possession. If I’d had my phone during such a long wait, I would’ve found something to work on, or answered messages, or simply trolled. The boredom felt foreign to me and I didn’t know what to do. I’d already been through everything in my purse to pass the time (hand lotion, chapstick, gum). The only thing left was to pay attention to the people around me.

As we finally got up to leave, I told one of the other associates (who goes by Shaq but answers the phone as Shaquille), “I feel like we’re friends!” I’d joked around with him a couple of times while we were there. Without even hesitating, he said, “We are!” I walked out the door laughing.

I have a feeling if I’d been on my phone the whole time, I would’ve walked out the door grumbling about how we lost an entire Sunday afternoon. I’m quick to point out how important it is to quit staring down at our phones and start looking up at the people around us, but apparently not so good about living it out. It was a humbling and eye-opening experience. How often do I do that? How much LIFE is passing me by while I “work” on a screen? There are real people all around me and it is way more worthwhile (and joyful!) to see and engage with them.

“Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.“

(John 4:35)

Would it be weird for me to pop into T-Mobile sometime just to see how they’re doing?

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52 Reasons to Love the Church

#17- It’s the Only Thing that Makes Sense

By Kathy Pollard

It’s a grim outlook if you watch the news to see how we’re measuring up as a nation. For the past couple of weeks, I’ve seen several studies-have-shown reports covering such topics as mental/ social/ physical health of children and adults, the education system, anger management, social media, etc. None of them have been positive. Reports are also coming in daily of the latest commodities to experience cost inflation, political scandals, and terrorist activities. I have no idea how accurate what we’re being fed actually is, but I’m not surprised that many around us seem to be affected by it.

Perhaps in your congregation you’ve experienced an increase in people showing up and looking for something. Neal pointed out to me that many of the Bible studies and baptisms here have been young adults from the community. They seem to be searching for solidarity and truth. One young woman even said, “I want to believe. I just don’t know what to believe.” She simply wanted to know about God and the Bible. Another word that keeps coming up from searchers is “community.” People are tired of disconnectedness and superficial relationships. They’re looking for family, support, and a good place to belong.

I imagine every generation thinks the condition of the world during their lifetime is the most ridiculous. Think about what our parents, grandparents, and great grandparents experienced! But no matter what is going on out there, the church stands secure (Daniel 2:44), has a solid foundation (Eph. 2:20), is full of purpose (Eph. 2:10), and is all about community and support (Rom. 12:5). What a contrast to the senselessness around us!

Let’s keep our eyes and hearts open to the souls who are hungering for more than what the world has to offer.

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

(Eph. 2:19-21)