Luxuries

River clean-up crew

After helping out in a river clean up project this week, I jumped in the shower.  As I turned the handle the water poured out of the shower head, strong, clean and steaming hot, and I thought, “A hot shower! Glorious luxury.”  You may not think of a hot shower as a glorious luxury, but on the islands, very few homes have heated water.  In the city, the majority have indoor plumbing, but water cuts are daily.  More often we are “showering” via dunking a pitcher in a bucket and pouring it over our own heads.  The water is untreated and sometimes comes out of the tap brown.  The water in the bucket is somewhat better as the sediment has had a chance to settle, but don’t dip the pitcher too low—you don’t want to disturb the mess at the bottom.

There are many things taken for granted in the US that we have come to appreciate as luxuries living on the Islands.  But this week I was struck by one area in which the COVID pandemic has caused people around the country and possibly the globe to appreciate, an oft unrecognized luxury—the “Regular Sunday Service.”  Thanks to a very large field behind their building, we were able to join a safe, masked, social distanced, outdoor service this past weekend.  People stood at distance, and singing behind masks is certainly not the same, but at the same time it was a joy to gather together with others in a large group to enjoy worship, fellowship and teaching for a few hours.  I heard many agree with my sentiments in the joy it was to come together in person.  People were appreciating a “Regular Sunday Service” like they had not done in a long time.

Whether we realize it or not, all of us who might be pining for the “Regular Sunday Service” are actually coming to appreciate it for the luxury it is.  For a large number of fellowships around the world, and as it was in earlier centuries, a “regular Sunday Service” is simply an impossible luxury—sometimes dangerous, sometimes grossly impractical, and often unsustainable.  Instead, only on occasion can there be a large gathering, a time of fellowship and worship and teaching.  Because these large gatherings are less frequent their occurrence is deeply valued and celebrated.  They are like a delicious dessert—greatly enjoyed and delighted over, but not for regular consumption.  Yet, here in the US, I don’t imagine most see the regular Sunday service as dessert.  I think for most, if we are being honest, see it more like eating your vegetables—something you don’t necessarily enjoy but you do it regularly because you know it’s good for you and helps you stay healthy.   It is only the pandemic that is causing us to appreciate it more.  But what if the regular Sunday service really is more like a dessert?

Outdoor Sunday Service

Maybe there is something to be learned from those far flung places in the world where large regular fellowship gatherings are less frequent.  In such places they have mastered the art of the small gathering.  In these groups, no one is anonymous. No one can merely be a fly on the wall.  No one can listen and leave.  The intimate nature of the group will draw people out and draw people in.  In these smaller gatherings, fellowship and community are paramount—going beyond just Sunday but caring for one another every day of the week.  The burdens, the sorrows, and the joys of one become the burdens, sorrows and joys of all.  Often in these groups the teaching is shared rather than falling on the shoulders of one, requiring the group as a whole to search and meditate and participate.  The small gathering is a place to explore and experiment, to grow and to learn, to develop gifts that can bless others, and to discover places that we are not gifted.  There is more grace for failure in the small gathering, and yet more accountability and encouragement to get up, be forgiven, and try again.  In short, there is much to gain from these small gatherings, even though they might not have the same excitement and rush of a large gathering.  

I know one day, the pandemic will be at an end and life will go back to normal, the regular Sunday service will return, and we will forget to think of it as a dessert, a luxury, a special celebration.  But in the meantime, maybe we can take more time to appreciate the small gathering and allow it to change our old ways for something better.

Enjoying Boston Public Garden

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We are thankful for the all the small group gatherings that we have gotten to participate in and be blessed by during this pandemic. After some bloodwork and imaging this past week, Megan got the okay from her local doctor to return from the islands and we assume the organization will agree. Thanks for praying. That was the final hurdle for getting approval to return. We have had fun opportunities to see people in person and do things that we haven’t been able to do since we came to the US and fulfilling some of our kids’ wishlist of things to do before we leave. Our colleague let us know that the translation team has finished checking a new book— meaning it should be ready for sharing soon!  A couple weeks ago we asked for prayer for an island sister whose father was very ill— we are thankful to learn that he is better!  We also continue to hear stories about colleagues and islanders getting opportunities to share light and truth.

 

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Pray for the small groups gathering on the islands that they would be encouraged and strong. We are now down to less than 2 weeks in the US. It is easy to get overwhelmed by all we still hope to accomplish in that time. Pray for clarity of mind and steady progress as we work through our to-do list. Pray for our kids as they prepare mentally and emotionally for the upcoming transition. Pray for our old boss, he is currently in the US and awaiting another knee surgery after a long saga of medical missteps— pray for healing and restoration. We continue to have opportunities while we are in the US to share with small groups and individuals interested in our work on the islands and even about working there themselves— pray that we could use those times well. Continue to pray for light to shine in the darkness everywhere!