"The Beatitudes are an invitation to hover closer to the ground in defiance of a culture that rewards taking flight." Shannan Martin
Churches by default tend to operate like an island. They are a gathering of people with a shared idea of what worship looks like. These people are still individuals who often have different backgrounds, different political views, different opinions on the specifics but together they share a vision.
The island's main goal often becomes to grow the island. Attract more residents. It serves its members well. But it wants people to live on their island. The idea that their island is THE only island.
Every summer we see this in action through the numerous VBS options in our community. We serve our own - we create this super fun experience for the members of our island. We encourage them to bring a friend to our island. We hope they move in. Because you know, our island is the best way to Jesus.
But......you knew there was a but coming right?
I think the goal of our islands is actually to build bridges.
It's to be okay with other islands existing.
To embrace those islands.
To serve those islands.
Every summer our church hosts a 6 week reading camp and a 1 week art camp for low income kids in our community.
During the year we go to the daycare where they spend their days/afternoons and we read to them and pour into them.
This program is not for the children on our island.
Our church kids are welcome to SERVE in the program (and many do).
The program is designed to be a bridge between us and a place that is a handful of blocks from our church.
A place that for the most part is vastly different than our island.
A place in our community that has needs.
So we build the bridge. And we think of all the ways that we can strengthen that bridge. We raise funds to buy books for the kids to have at the daycare to read. We provide snacks and pizza and ice cream and all the things that kids deserve to have in the summer but these kids don't get. We tutor them in reading. We provide games to strengthen their language nutrition.
But mostly, we take time to look into the eyes of these precious children and pay attention to them.
Not because they aren't loved - they are.
But because the adults in their life are really busy holding on. Working multiple jobs. Trying to keep them fed and clothed. The adults are carrying heavy things. Sometimes when you are carrying heavy things it's hard to see.
So for a few hours each week we build this bridge and we see these kids.
We are not trying to get them to join our island.
We are merely saying "Our island is here to serve. We see your need and we are here to be hands and feet."
Our island builds lots of bridges. We feed the hungry at the soup kitchen, we deliver the lunches for the school kids who are without when school is out, we make sleeping mats for the unhoused, and so much more.
Mama Warriors, we have to grow our islands right? Our islands need people who give regularly and attend faithfully in order to build the bridges (and you know, keep the building open and buy the coffee).
But the attendance on the island should never be the goal.
It's the bridges.
I think the answer to the divisiveness we see in our community and larger country is building bridges.
Perhaps we will view programs differently if we visited the islands where the people who use them live.
Summer is great time for your kids to walk some bridges.
And on the other side, there just might be the cutest six year old your kid ever met who thinks they are the best storyteller ever.
