Good morning…
“Very well said, Sue,” he wrote after yesterday’s post, a post highlighting the loving response of a rabbi following a shooting in his California synagogue. “Incidents of pure evil like the one in Poway and the suicide bombings at the Christian churches in Sri Lanka during Easter services that killed more than 200 persons celebrating the risen Christ are truly heartbreaking. Acts of love and going to our Father in prayer are things all of us can do to make a difference.”
After reading his email, I went to our staff training day at the church. Before we went to our Father in prayer, one of the women said, “Let’s pray for the husband, family, and friends of the woman killed in the synagogue shooting this weekend. She was a friend of mine. She was an incredibly joyful, passionate woman. When we were younger, we toured for a year together with the singing group Up With People.” Small world, right? A woman dedicated to serving people at our church in Atlanta being longtime friends with a woman dedicated to serving people in her synagogue in California.
I personally remember seeing Up With People when they toured through our hometown near Cleveland, Ohio years ago. Wikipedia tells us: “Up with People is an educational organization whose mission is to inspire young people to make a difference in their world. UWP works to break down cultural barriers and create global understanding through volunteer service and a musical show.” To enjoy a blast from the past, chuckle with me at this video of Up With People singing in 1976, recorded when I was just thirteen years old. “If more people were for people,” sings the theme song, “all people everywhere, there’d be a lot less people to worry about and a lot more people who care.”
As God equips us daily to be people who worry a lot less and care a lot more, we inspire young people, we break down cultural barriers, and we create global understanding, dedicating our ordinary lives in service to an extraordinary God. Today, let’s embody the encouragement one of you shared, “Acts of love and going to our Father in prayer are things all of us can do to make a difference.”
My dear children, you come from God and belong to God. You have already won a big victory over those false teachers, for the Spirit in you is far stronger than anything in the world (1 John 4:4, MSG).
…Sue…
P.S. After sharing this post with my friend from the church she sent me a funny photo her old friend Lori performing, with this joyous description: “Lori is circled and I’m the orange dress above her. And yes, it was 100% genuine double knit polyester!!!” I replied, “There certainly is joy in our shared journey.”
