Recycle Me

“Whoever is in Christ is a new creation; the old has gone, and the new has come!”(2 Corinthians 5:17)

The recycling department of the City of Clinton (North Carolina) is located a few blocks down the street from our house. On the wall facing the street there are three murals made of discarded plastic containers. This prayer is inspired by those murals.

Recycle Me

I offer my life to you, O Lord.

It's not much, I know. I got the sin in me.

I'm not exactly perfect. Not even close, really.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm any good at all.

Still, I offer myself to you. As a living sacrifice.

Take me, I pray, and use me for your glory.

You are the God who makes all things new.

You take us as we are, but you don't leave us that way.

Your specialty is transformation.

You take broken and sinful humans,

and you make us new creations.

Recycle me, Lord.

Re-use me.

Renew me.

Make me part of something beautiful.

I offer my life to you, O Lord.

Use me, for your glory.

Amen.

Make Me a Reflection

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. (Psalm 103:8)

Make Me a Reflection

Lord, make me a reflection.

Make me a reflection of you.

You have created me in your image. Show me how to live so that I accurately reflect your image. As I try to represent you in the world around me, I want people to see the kind of Lord you are:

  gracious

    compassionate

      patient

        kind

          faithful

            forgiving

              present

Lord, make me a reflection of you.

You care about the poor, the hungry, the homeless. Make me to care, too. Make me a reflection of you.

You care about justice, and righteousness, and truth. Make me to care, too. Make me a reflection of you.

You love unconditionally and eternally. Make me to love, too. Make me a reflection of you.

Lord, make me a reflection of you.

Let's Do Lent

“...a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

(Psalm 51:17b)

Here we go again. The season of Lent is already upon us, again. And that's a good thing. I love the season of Lent.

Last year at this time I began an experiment of sorts that melded two passions of mine – photography, and devotion to God's word – into this blog I call “Picturing My Faith.” Frankly, I was surprised at the impact that this blog had on me personally, and on so many of you who took time to read my devotions. It made such an impact on me that I decided to continue the blog after Easter (though not on a daily basis – whew!, it was a challenge to write something every day during Lent!).

Photography has given me a unique lens (pun intended) through which to view the world from the perspective of faith. When I take pictures of the everyday, ordinary things we encounter in the world around us, something stirs within me. I am moved by what I see in the photos, because with each picture I discover amazing new things about God, and myself, and the world in which we live. My photography has been God's gift to me, to help me see things anew and afresh, and to appreciate God all the more.

I write this blog because I want to share my amazement at God and God's world with you.

So let's do Lent together. This year instead of sharing stories and devotions with you, I have chosen to use my photography as the springboard for daily prayer. So, technically, I won't be talking to you in my blogs – I will be talking to God. But I invite you to listen in on my conversations. Just so you know, my prayers are pretty basic – I thank God a lot, I pray for help, and I stand in awe of God's majesty, glory, and grace. Or as Anne Lamott wrote, the three essential prayers are “Help,” “Thanks,” and “Wow.” Most of my prayers will probably fall into one of those three categories.

Prayer is also listening to God. So sometimes my prayers may simply be words from Scripture that I (we) need to hear.

Let's do Lent. Let's take advantage of the forty days between Ash Wednesday and Easter (not counting Sundays) to recognize our need for salvation, to anticipate the amazing love Jesus shows to us on the cross, and to try to understand what it means to rely fully upon God for life – true, abundant, eternal life.

Let's do Lent.

Let us pray...

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Walking the Level Path

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”(Psalm 143:10)

Carol and I went on a quick vacation to Colorado recently. I love the mountains – the cool, thin air; the ever-changing horizon; the awe-inspiring vistas at every turn of the road or trail. One of our favorite destinations is the Rocky Mountain National Park. There are dozens of trails with hundreds of miles of exhilarating and breath-taking sights.

On our fourth day at the park, we were driving along the Trail Ridge Road (the highest continuously paved highway in the U.S.). This year we had Carol's sister and brother-in-law, and a good friend from Texas with us. As we were beginning to make our way down the road back to our cabin, I turned to Bill (my brother-in-law) and said, “You know, there's a trail up ahead that I've always wanted to hike. It will take us all the way down into the park, and Carol can come pick us up in a couple of hours.” Bill said, “Sounds like a good idea to me.”

So we pulled over at the Ute Trail trailhead, and Bill and I got out of the car. We put a couple of water bottles in a backpack, a rain jacket, and at the last minute I grabbed the hat that Carol had put in the back of the car. We told the women good-bye. Then I knocked on the car window, and when Carol rolled the window down, I told her in my most serious dramatic voice, “If anything happens to us, know that I love you.” Carol laughed and said, “Be careful. I love you too.” Then I grinned, turned around, and Bill and I began our six and a half mile hike.

The Ute Trail starts above tree line. For the first two miles of our hike, we were treated to beautiful mountain views on our right, and left, in front of us and behind us. Above tree line, plants and animals have to scrap for life; the fierce winds and the long winters make for harsh living conditions. Nevertheless, we saw some beautiful wildflowers, some of them growing in lush green grass, some of them growing in the shelter of big boulders.

The trail at that point was relatively flat, and was well-worn. For the first two miles, Bill and I were able to walk at a nice pace, given the high altitude (about 11,500 feet above sea level). After a little more than an hour, we could see that the trail would begin to descend at a crest just beyond an outcropping of rock. Then, as the saying goes, it would be all downhill from there.

A picture of me. Just before my trip
Notice that the trail is not flat.
And there are lots of rocks.
Photo credit: Bill Hays

At the outcropping of rock, the trail became less distinct. I was in the lead, with the backpack on my back and my camera hanging around my neck. As I was walking along, I looked to the left and to the right, trying to discern the trail. I should've been looking straight ahead and down at my feet, because I tripped on a rock. I don't really know what happened, but I know that I stumbled a couple of times and then I was propelled head first into a sizable rock on the ground.

Life lesson: When your foot hits a rock that is firmly embedded in the ground, the rock wins. Every. Time. And when your head is propelled into a rock that is firmly embedded in the ground, the rock wins. Every. Time.

There I was, on all fours, at 11,500 feet. I let out some sort of guttural noise (maybe even a few choice words), and grabbed my hand. I knew right away that I had cut my head. Poor Bill, he saw the whole thing, and he got to me just as I took off my hat and exposed my wound.

At this point, I need to say a word of thanks to my Mom. Mom taught me a long time ago to keep a handkerchief in my pocket. So I took my hanky out of my pocket and pressed it on my head wound to stop the bleeding. It worked like a charm.

Bill and I sat there for a few minutes. I know my adrenalin was pumping, and I think Bill's was too. I took stock of my state – no broken bones, no bruised knees or twisted ankles. Just a gash on my head, and that was under control. So I said to Bill, “I think we can make it all the way down to the trailhead where Carol will be waiting for us. Let's go.”

We didn't have any first aid stuff with us (another life lesson, I suppose). So I took off my sweatshirt and tied it around my head to keep the handkerchief on the wound.

Another picture of me. After my trip.
Photo credit: Bill Hays

Dorky, but effective.

Fast forward to the end (because I know you don't want to hear about the entire hike): We met up with Carol a couple of hours later; she took me to the ER in Estes Park (shout out to the fine people there!), where I was in and out in less than an hour. My souvenir for the trip: seven staples in my head, and a throbbing headache. We were back on the trail the next day.

After our return to South Carolina, I found myself at my desk at home during my quiet time one morning. These words of the psalmist jumped out at me:

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”Psalm 143:10

Hint: it's the part about “level ground” that really struck a chord with me. I have learned that level ground is much easier to navigate. It's also easier to stay vertical on level ground.

What is true regarding the paths our feet tread is also true regarding the path we choose to follow in life. You see, if we veer from the way God leads us, we will find ourselves on rocky soil. And we'll trip and fall. And probably get hurt.

God has shown us the way we should go. He has given us his word, the Bible. 

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105) “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.” (Psalm 119:9)

Even more, God has given us his Word, Jesus Christ. “Follow me,” he says. “Come to me, and I will give you rest.”

Look, I'm not narrowing God's word down to a bunch of rules that say “thou shalt,” and “thou shalt not.” To be sure, those are in the Bible, and we need to heed them. But really, I'm talking about the life-giving nature of God's word. Because the more our lives are informed by God's word, the more we will discover God's love, God's righteousness, God's truth. And God's truth is life. Abundant, everlasting life. Choose the level path that God has made for you.

I learned a little bit about level paths while I was in Colorado. But I also learned of the goodness of God, who delivered me. Even though I stumbled and fell, God got me up and he delivered me to safety. From now on, I'm going to be more careful about the paths I choose to hike.

Listen, I know that sometimes we make wrong choices, and we take the wrong path. And we stumble and fall. But God is gracious and compassionate, and he will pick us up and give us the opportunity to get on the right path again. 

And again. 

And again. 

That's the kind of God we have. His love is everlasting.

“Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Jeremiah 6:16)  

Cats and Dogs, Wolves and Lambs, Donkeys and Elephants

“The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat,...They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain...”
Isaiah 11:6, 9

I have a confession to make: I'm not a cat person. That might surprise those who visit our house, because we do have three cats (only one of which is an “indoor” cat). So, you can imagine my demeanor after Carol and Ben came home recently with... a kitten.

Granted, she is adorable, but still... She's a cat. And I'm not a cat person.

It turns out that we're only kitty-sitting while the kitten's owners are out of town for a couple of weeks. That makes it more bearable. I can enjoy the adorable-ness of the kitten, all the while remembering that the frequent feedings and supervised explorations of the family room will soon be a memory.

Truth be told, our dogs have had a much harder time than I have with the adjustment. I'm not sure you know this, but dogs and cats aren't natural friends; in fact, dogs have been known to act a bit aggressively toward cats. Our dogs were not happy when the kitten came to reside with us. The dogs don't understand when we tell them, “It's only for a couple of weeks.”

I have to give some credit to one of our dogs, Bella. Bella has been more curious than aggressive toward Kitty-Kitty (I am not giving the kitten a name, lest she become ours). Carol and/or I are always close by when Kitty-Kitty and Bella are in the same room. Kitty-Kitty prances around, climbing on the furniture, scampering underneath the couch, and pouncing on ribbons, toys, shoes, and anything else we leave out for her. Bella, for her part, follows closely everywhere Kitty-Kitty goes, her ears perking up in that “something strange is going on” way that dogs have about them. Occasionally, Bella will lick her lips, which makes us worry that maybe she wants to eat Kitty-Kitty, a fate even a non-cat-person such as I would not wish upon the cute little ball of fur.

After a week and a half, Bella got up on the same chair where Kitty-Kitty was playing. They both kind of froze in place and stared each other down for a few moments. Then Bella settled down, and before we knew it, Kitty-Kitty had laid herself down right on top of Bella.

The Peaceable Kingdom

Alright, even I let out an audible “Awwwww”. I mean, who wouldn't? Look how cute they are together!

It is a cute picture, indeed. But it is also, at another level, profoundly meaningful.

Almost immediately my mind went to a familiar passage in the Old Testament book of Isaiah. In the 11^th chapter we find a prophecy of the coming of the Messiah from the line of King David. In that chapter there is a description of the kind of kingdom the Messiah will usher in:

“The spirit of the Lord will rest on him (the Messiah) –

     the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

     the Spirit of counsel and might,

     the Spirit of the knowledge and the fear of the Lord...

“...with righteousness he will judge the needy,

     with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth...

...Righteousness will be his belt

     and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

“The wolf will live with the lamb,

     the leopard will lie down with the goat,

the calf and the lion and the yearling together;

     and a little child will lead them...

...they will neither harm nor destroy

     on all my holy mountain,

for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord

     as the waters cover the sea.”

Isn't that a beautiful picture of what our world will be like in the kingdom of God?! Can you imagine a world where all is good and equitable for everyone? A world where natural enemies actually come together in peace and harmony?

Come to think of it, I like to think that we have the opportunity to move toward that reality even now. We don't have to wait until the ultimate arrival of the Kingdom, for the truth is we are called to live into kingdom reality even now. I truly believe that Christ has already begun an amazing transformation in the hearts of all who believe in him. It is a transformation that empowers us to overcome the hostilities of our world and work for reconciliation, and peace. Even a superficial reading of the New Testament will draw us to conclude that, in Christ, the things that separate and divide and create hostility between people are no match for the grace, mercy, and forgiveness that are ours in Christ (see, for example, Ephesians 2:11-20, Galatians 3:26-29, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Colossians 3:12-17, Matthew 6:9-15, Matthew 5:9, Acts 9).

I say this because my heart is heavy over the spirit of violence, vengeance, and enmity that is pervasive in nearly every area of life and in our world. Just last week a man opened fire on a group of Republican members of congress practicing for a baseball game, wounding five people before being killed by heroic action from the Capitol Police. In the aftermath people from both sides of the political aisle noted that the vitriolic rhetoric we hear 24/7 coming from politicians, activists, protesters, and alternative news outlets probably fed into the hatred of the man who pulled the trigger on the politicians. I just read a story on the internet (which means it must be true), that cited a Pew research poll indicating that "78 million Americans actually hate the other political party."* 

As followers of the Prince of Peace in whom the vision of Isaiah is fulfilled, we should expect better than the current political climate, especially as we claim a Judeo-Christian influence on our country's great history. Enmity and divisiveness should not be the default in our society. It's okay to disagree. Passionate people will disagree. Christ-followers of good conscience will disagree on any number of important issues.

But when our disagreements result in the demonization of those who disagree with us, we have crossed a line. No longer are we being driven by the spirit of Christ, which calls for understanding and reconciliation and mutual respect; instead, we have succumbed to a spirit far beneath the spirit of Christ. Enmity and divisiveness are deeds of the flesh (to put it in Paul's terms), not the spirit of Christ.

Leadership from both the Democrats and Republicans called for a more civil discourse. I hope and pray that their words are not empty.

Folks, if a dog and a cat can learn to get along (it is a learned behavior, an intentional act of the heart), then don't you think the elephants and donkeys can find a way to get along? I think we can. In Christ, we have the wherewithal to break down divisions and barriers instead of erecting them; we have the means by which to set aside enmity, and foster peace. 

Learn a lesson from Bella and Kitty-Kitty. Find a way to overcome the urge to hate and hurt. Find a way to come together, in peace, forgiveness, and mercy. 

That is, after all, the vision of the world where Jesus Christ reigns.


*http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/analysis-how-many-americans-truly-hate-the-other-political-party-about-78-million/ar-BBCUjHr?li=BBnb7Kz%C2%A0 

Relationship Goals

Love never fails...(1 Corinthians 13:14)

Last month I had a really cool opportunity. One of our church members is the activities director at a nearby retirement community, and she asked if I would officiate a vow renewal ceremony. Five couples assembled in a lovely courtyard in front of a fountain, as about 25 family members and other residents gathered to witness the renewal of their marriage vows.

Before the ceremony, the couples gathered in the hallway leading to the courtyard. Even though they had all been married well over 50 years, they were giddy with excitement as they processed to the fountain. When we reached the part of the ceremony where they renewed their vows, I went to each couple individually, had them look each other in the eye and repeat after me:

I, (Fred, etc.), embrace you, (Diana, etc.), as a gift from the hand of God;

and I reaffirm my promise,

before God and these witnesses,

to be your loving and faithful husband (wife);

in plenty and in want,

in joy and in sorrow,

in sickness and in health,

so long as we both shall live.

It was a beautiful thing to see grown men and women choke up and their eyes well up with tears, even after 50, 60, or more years of marriage. What a joyful evening it was! Of course, it was over at 7:30 – can't let something like a vow renewal ceremony make them late for bed...

I left the evening uplifted, encouraged, and hopeful. I thought to myself, “I want Carol and me to be that way in our 80s.”

Later on realized that I didn't need to attend a vow renewal like that in order for me to be inspired; I have my own parents and Carol's parents to serve as wonderful “relationship goals” for our marriage. In fact, as I post this on my blog, it is my parents' 60^th anniversary.

Happy Anniversary, 

Sidney and Kaye!

60 years. What an amazing example of steadfast, persevering love. 

Carol's parents are about to celebrate 62 years of marriage.

I am, truly, inspired.

As I think about the secret to longevity in marriage, my mind immediately focuses on love. (If you know me, you will know that love is pretty much the secret to everything!) But the kind of love that will fuel a marriage through the years is more than a warm, mushy feeling inside you. The kind of love that marriage requires that self-interest diminish, and the welfare of the other increase. Paul describes this kind of love in his words found in 1 Corinthians 13:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails...

I think about the people who have been married for so many years (like my parents, Carol's parents, and the folks at the retirement community). I realize that they have gone through seasons of great happiness; but they have also faced tremendous challenges together that were anything but happy. They have had to forgive, and ask for forgiveness. They have been rich, poor, sick, and healthy. They have made sacrifices for their spouse and family.

And through it all, love. In Colossians, Paul lists a number of noble character traits that followers of Christ should manifest in our lives. You know, things like compassion, kindness, gentleness, humility, forgiveness, patience. Words that most of us would want to be used in describing ourselves. After listing these noble character traits, Paul says this: “And over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:14)

All this, to say that if we want to reach relationship goals like my parents, we have to love. I am forever grateful to my parents for demonstrating this to me, every day.

Love. It really is that simple.

Not easy. But simple. And mandatory.

Now these three remain: Faith, hope, and love.

And the greatest of these, is love.*

*Paul's words, not mine. But I wholeheartedly agree with Paul on this one!

Memorial Day -- No Greater Love

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.”John 15:13

Memorial Day. A day to remember, to reflect, and to give thanks.

In the sanctuary of our church, there are two flags. One is the Christian flag, and the other, the flag of the United States of America.

Both flags represent freedom. The Christian flag reminds us of the freedom from sin that Jesus Christ won for us. The American flag reminds us of the freedom we have celebrated as a nation for 241 years, and for the freedom that the citizens of this nation enjoy.

And in both instances, freedom came at a cost. The ultimate cost.

The freedom that Jesus won for us came at the cost of his life. He laid down his life, for us.

The freedom that we enjoy in this great nation also came at the ultimate cost. Over the centuries, countless men and women in the military have given their lives, so that you and I can live in freedom. They laid down their lives, for us. Because they loved this nation, they went to war. For us.

In our town of Georgetown, the local VFW Post recently dedicated a War Memorial that spans all the wars our men and women have fought. It is a beautiful tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice – and to those who were and are currently willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, our veterans and current military personnel.

Jesus said, “No greater love is there than this: that a person is willing to lay down their life for their friends.” Jesus proved his love for you and me, by dying on the cross. 

The men and women for whom we observe this holiday proved their love for this nation, and they paid the ultimate cost. Again, for you and me.

In Katharine Lee Bates's hymn, “America, the Beautiful,” the third stanza begins with these words:

O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife, 

Who more than self their country loved, 

And mercy more than life!

Bates captures the spirit that you and I need to remember today. For were there not those “who more than self their country loved,” I'm not sure what our nation (or our world) would be like today. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be as free and prosperous and secure as it is right now.

So today as we enjoy a day at the beach, or an evening barbecue, or a leisurely hike in the mountains, or just a day off – let us do it with a grateful heart.

Because someone who probably didn't even know you, gave their life so that you could enjoy the day.

Remember, and give thanks.

On Being a Good Neighbor

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan ...came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.”

Luke 10:30-33

Early one morning Carol and I were walking along the beach. We were on an uninhabited stretch of shoreline, and the tide had been ebbing for a couple of hours. After about a half hour, I noticed something in the sand ahead of us. As we got closer, I could tell it was a horseshoe crab, lying on its back. At first I thought it was dead, but then when I tapped it with the toe of my shoe it moved. Evidently the tide had turned the crab upside down, and now it was stuck.

Like a turtle on its back, the horseshoe crab is totally defenseless. The sun will quickly scorch the crab's body, and it will die. Plus, the seagulls and other birds would soon come and begin to peck at it mercilessly. It was a gruesome thought.

This was the first time I had ever seen a horseshoe crab, other than in places like a children's museum. In those instances, the crab was always on its belly, and all saw saw were the shell and the tail, which are harmless. But on its back, it looks kinda scary.

Part of me wanted to help the poor, defenseless thing; it would die without help. But part of me was scared—I mean, there are a lot of pointed things under the shell. Sharp-looking pointed things.

Finally, I realized that I could probably turn it over where it was, and then pick it up on the outside of the shell and position it where the water was coming up onto the beach. So that's what I did. And lo and behold, the crab started to move—ever so slowly—right into the oncoming surf. Soon it had returned to the safety of the water.

I was feeling pretty satisfied with myself, when a couple of hundred yards later I saw another horseshoe crab. This one was much larger, and it was also farther up the beach, to the highest point the tide had reached. It was going to take a lot longer for this one to reach the water, so I ended up picking it up and carrying it part of the way.

So that day I saved, not one, but TWO lives. I did it. Yep, me. Go ahead and nod approvingly—I most certainly deserve it.

But later I thought to myself, “What if I had just walked past the crabs, and did nothing?” They almost certainly would've died...

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Jesus told the story of the man who was robbed and beaten and left for dead on the side of the road. The first two people who came upon the man – the official representatives of God – passed by on the other side of the road. They looked the other way. They did nothing.

Jesus doesn't say why they don't stop to help the man. People have speculated that maybe they were afraid it was a trap, and that robbers would come as soon as they stooped over to help the man. Maybe they were in a hurry and couldn't afford the time to stop and help. Maybe they were aware that contact with blood and/or a dead body would make them ritually unclean and unable to work for at least a week. Maybe they just afraid. We really don't know why; we just know that they didn't stop to help the man.

Whenever I've read that story, I have always shaken my head and whispered, “Tsssk, Tsssk” at the priest and the Levite. “Shameful, they are,” I think to myself.

And yet, how far from them am I, really? I know that there are times when I can offer my help, but I don't. You know the excuses—too busy, not sure I'd know what to do, what if I say or do something wrong?, I'm afraid of messing up...

It turns out that I cross to the other side of the street more than I want to admit. Please don't “Tsssk, Tsssk” me. I'm not proud of it. I don't want to be the one who plays the part of the priest and the Levite. And I'm sure you don't want to be that person, either.

Believe it or not, this actually has something to do with my “heroic” rescue of the horseshoe crabs. You see, when I came across the horseshoe crabs, I was afraid. They scared me. But I took the time to confront my fears, and sought to do the right thing. I didn't let my first impression prevent me from helping one of God's creatures in need.

My encounter with the crabs reminded me how important it is to struggle past the excuses, and offer a helping hand. Compassion and care needs to overcome our fears and our hesitancy. I know this is hard, especially when it means helping a stranger. Strangers can be intimidating, simply because there is so much that we don't know about them. But Jesus reminds us that strangers are our neighbors, too. Or, to be more precise, we are to be a neighbor even to strangers.

Recently a woman came into the office at church. She is a “regular” who comes off the street just about every month. We all know her by name. My first instinct, I'll admit, was, “I'm going to send her on her way. I don't have time for her today.” But then I felt a little nudge (probably God, or the Holy Spirit, go figure): “Let her into the office; hear what she has to say.”

So I spent a little time with her. She has to live off of $735 in disability, and $30 in food stamps each month. She has to pay her own rent and utilities with that money, and feed herself and buy basic necessities like clothing and toilet paper and laundry. She broke down into tears, “Steve, I actually begged for money from a stranger in the parking lot at the store today. I can't do that—the police will arrest me if I do that.”

I gave her a little bit of money. She won't spend it on alcohol or tobacco; I think I know her well enough for that. It's not enough even for her to get what she needs for the rest of the month. But it was something. As she left, I gave her hand a little squeeze, put my arm on my shoulder, and assured her that she would be okay.

She was one for whom Jesus says I am to be a neighbor. I hope that she left with something of a sense of God's love for her. She is struggling to find God's love in her life, so I hope that just to spend a few minutes with her was a way to let her know that she is loved.

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Here's an interesting tidbit about the horseshoe crab: I learned later on that medical equipment is tested for contamination with a product made from the blood of the horseshoe crab. There are people who catch the crabs, gently extract a little bit of their blood, and then return the crabs to the ocean. And then they make a serum that is used to detect impurities and contaminants on medical equipment.

It turns out that maybe I helped someone else when I put those two crabs back into the ocean.

It just goes to show, you never know how far down your good deed will go. So, be a good neighbor to those in need. It's probably going to do a lot more good than you think.