Dana Reardon - Feed the Flock

Feed the Flock

Possibly she was running late. Maybe she got cut off in traffic. We have all had days like that. But it was to the point where she didn’t like anyone and anything. Everything sucked. People were not very nice.

I don’t know here exact story. What I do know is that as she drove by our church she saw a big sign. It said, “Hungry? Join us. Free Lunch. Every Sunday”

Somehow that made all the difference. At least everyone wasn’t horrid. She had found some good people. The truth is she had found the reminder that she needed that the world wasn’t always awful and that everyone and everything was not in existence just to make her life more difficult.

Did she know that we put that sign out in front of the church because of what we know and believe about the nature of the world? More about the creator of the world. Because we have been so blessed by a God who loves us, we chose to share what we have. That day we shared no food, we shared hope. I wish I had a chance to ask so that I might share not only food or hope but the message of God’s love for us in Christ Jesus.

How do I know that this woman was fed something more that food that morning? I know because she was so touched that she pulled into the parking lot of our church and came into the office. I was not there but she spoke to our church administrator. She said thank you. You have restored my faith in people.

She opened her purse and pulled out her checkbook and wrote a check to support our soup kitchen. Not only was she blessed by the hope she got that day but she was blessed by being able to be a part of the ministry that had restored her hope. Most of the time we don’t get to know how we touch people beyond the walls of our church by the ministries we are engaged in.

When we open our hearts and our doors and do what God is calling us to then it is like throwing a pebble in a pond the ripples flow out in every direction and everything and everyone gets touched. Then some of those who get touched drop a pebble or two of caring and more lives are reached.

I share this story to encourage all of you in your ministries, in case a day comes when you do not remember why we do what we do.

Lord, I give you thanks for all who drop their pebbles in the water and for all who are touched, but mostly for your love that motivates what we do. Amen

The Rev. Dana Reardon is pastor at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Warwick, RI. A lifelong Lutheran, she came to ordained ministry after 21 years in nursing, mostly in pediatric intensive care. She graduated from Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia in 1998 and served 4 ½ years in Upstate New York before becoming a New Englander. She is still trying to understand the accent. While in the Upstate New York Synod she chaired the Stewardship Team. That began her fascination with what makes stewards -- and more, what makes for generosity. She has three amazing daughters: Pastor Reardon says much of what she knows of life she learned from them.