Two couples from my church went on a work mission team to do construction projects in Appalachia about 25 years ago. The teams bought materials and brought along equipment for jobs that had been planned by someone who had assessed the needs in a community.
Upon their return, they shared their experiences and one of their accounts is a great illustration of what I meant in the previous chapter.
The plan was to build a bathroom in the house for an older couple, so they didn't have to always struggle to the outhouse in their yard. The workers looked forward to making such an improvement in these peoples' lives.
The problem was that the planner had not shared the idea with the owners. The workers showed up with the materials ready to install a bathroom in the house, but the owners were not only against an inside bathroom but were disgusted at the idea of the toilet in the same building where they cooked their food.
So, they ended up building them a better outhouse instead.
I took this lesson to TRY and remind myself that when helping someone you have to respect them enough to let it be about what THEY need and not about what YOU think they need. It is a challenge I struggle with daily.
Larry, the man who lived this event, died recently at the age of 98. His health only began to decline at age 95. His funeral, or as we at our church often refer to as A Celebration of Life Service, was two hours long, and we didn't mind that at all. There was music, because he loved music. And there was so much sharing of the blessing Larry was to each of us. Oh, that we could all strive to live a life that is a blessing to everyone.
We Can!
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Lifelong Impact from a Sermon and Other Life Lessons
Non-FictionHow my perception of the role a minister has in the church was changed. This is a true account that has impacted me for over 35 years. Plus other sermons that moved me as well as other stories. I am impacted by emotional, moving events and ideas tha...
