A mile in her shoes

"Don't judge a person until you've walked a mile in her shoes."

During our continuing conversation on homelessness, our youth groups had the chance to experience - quite literally - what it feels like to walk in another's shoes.  We piled our shoes into one big lump in the middle of the room, then re-distributed them to new wearers.  We noticed our pleasure in a new style; our pain in shoes that were too tight; our clumsy steps in overlarge sneakers.  We observed that our trek from the undercroft to the fellowship hall was awkward, difficult to navigate the stairs, and downright uncomfortable at times.  

Later, we metaphorically walked in the shoes of our PACEM guests - those women who are finding shelter in our church home for two week's worth of nights.  We absorbed the cots on which they sleep, the large room, the proximity to other guests, the aspects of sleeping in a fellowship hall with a dozen other people that may prove challenging.  We imagined ourselves in their shoes, in their circumstances, in their struggles to meet basic life-sustaining needs.

We listened to a reading from Matthew, chapter 25: 31-46, with a particular focus on 37-40:

Then the good people will answer, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you alone and away from home and invite you into our house?  When did we see you without clothes and give you something to wear?  When did we see you sick or in prison and care for you?"  Then the King will answer, "I tell you the truth, anything you did for even the least of my people here, you also did for me."  

We remembered that we are called to love our neighbor as ourselves, and the best way in which we can show our love for God is to take care of the least of God's people on earth.

It was a powerful reminder of who we are and what we are called to do.

Pizza and Skating!

At the end of January, our group met up on a Friday night for an evening of delicious pizza and two hours of ice skating.  What a fun night!!  Highlights included playing tag around the rink, racing each other while dodging the masses, "ghosting" people as they skated, and generally goofing off and being silly.  We decided that next time, we want to be the ones to drive the Zamboni around the rink... (which might appeal to N. a bit more than the skates did!)

It was a fantastic night of fellowship and friendship. Yay!

The Year in Review

What a year it's been - enjoy!!

(Click here for an awesome slide show presentation.....)