For some, the prime expression of their faith is thought. For others it is mediation. Some prefer to focus their spiritual life on scripture. I found myself resonating most powerfully with those whose preferred expression of piety was service. I am most comfortable showing my devotion to God through acts done to assist others.
This is no surprise. I am still completing the duties I assumed for the CROP Walk for hunger. The LCM e-news has a note about helping distribute meat to needy families in partnership with the Turkish Muslim students. And, today, I begin the week and a half project of building the Habitat for Humanity house on Bowman Field.
I will be tired and irritable. But I will be as happy as one can be over these next ten days. I hope I get to swing a hammer, but mostly I will supervise and assign folks to tasks. When workers ask me, "Are you a contractor?" I will reply "No, I am a preacher." If they allow me, I will say that my grandfather was a contractor, but wanted to be a preacher. So I am a preacher who would really like to be a builder.
Over 350 students will work on the house. They will come for an hour, two hours, maybe half a day. And together we will transform a pile of lumber into a home for a neighbor.
If you are still struggling to discover your preferred spiritual tradition, come out and discern that along side me. Regardless of your preferred style, we all make use of the spiritual tradition of prayer. Put some of that into play as you remember the project and those who work on it.
It isn't merely a house, it is a home. And more importantly it is an expression of our intent to follow the directive of Jesus to care for neighbor and to serve him, not with words only but also with our lives.
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