Where's Your Front Porch

Back in the good ole’ days, folks gathered on front porches to discuss everything from weather, to new babies to politics and religion. Wooden rocking chairs were a staple on the wide sweeping porches … chairs that said welcome. Neighbors knew neighbors. Parents watched out for all the children playing in their yard … and kisses for owies or discipline for an infraction were dispensed to all children alike.

Today, front porches are added to the house to provide a small shelter for the front door … our house included.

So my question is, “Where is the gathering place for you?”

There used to be a program on television where friends from all walks of life partook of drinks at a bar called “Cheers”. And everyone knew their names.

For several years now (even though I do not drink coffee), almost daily my husband and I have gathered at a local Starbucks. The customers we met there have become our “neighborhood”. We know when someone is sick … or moving … or received a promotion. We celebrate together … and commiserate together. And we don’t agree on politics.

I am acquainted with people who attend my church who never fellowship with anyone who doesn’t attend there. Their cocoon keeps them safely inside … surrounded by others who only believe the same way.

How boring.

For 30 years of my life, I had no friends … and didn’t know I needed any. It was a stretch for me to reach out to one … and then one more. But today my life is filled with a variety of people of all ages, lifestyles and philosophies. They know I would drop everything and come running if they needed me … and they would do the same. 

Where’s your front porch?

“Never abandon a friend—either yours or your father’s. When disaster strikes, you won’t have to ask your brother for assistance. It’s better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far away.” Proverbs 27:10 (NLT) 

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Squirrel, Kitty or Skunk

It seemed like any other normal day.  Driving home from work down a city street, I glanced to my right and saw a man walking on the sidewalk. Suddenly he stopped in mid-stride. At that moment a squirrel emerged from under some bushes and slowly started across the street in front of me.

That’s odd. He must be afraid of squirrels. 

That’s when I realized the squirrel was black with a white stripe. I froze in mid-drive … slamming on my brakes. At four o’clock in the afternoon, a skunk crossed the street in front of me and calmly walked into the yard of the first house.

If I knew who lived there, I would call and warn them about who just came to visit. But I’m not walking to the front door.

I headed home. The man resumed his walk.

As I drove, I thought about life. Some activities may look innocent … like a squirrel … from a distance. Sometimes … like a child … one may not know the difference between a squirrel and a skunk. As we dabble in an unknown, we may be in danger of being sprayed with a very unpleasant odor.

If we observed a child chasing a black and white “kitty”, we would immediately reach out to rescue them. What about those around us who are involved in unsavory activities … making unwise choices? Do we caution them? Would they thank us?

Or … like a child denied its “kitty” … would they lash out?

Do we try anyway? Is it our responsibility? Or do we wait for the consequences … the unpleasant odor … to assault our nostrils?

 “None of this going off and doing your own thing. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense.” Colossians 3:16 (MSG)

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Duty Fulfilled

My first car was a little Datsun. Not much of a car, but it got me from here to there. I’ve had Honda Accords and Civics. They were nicer than the Datsun, had a little more power and got me from here to there. My Maxima was nice. I liked the color and the roominess. But its duty was to get me from here to there. 

Then I came up in the world. I looked for a car I actually wanted … not just a service vehicle. An Acura TL was my car of choice. Nice. Had some power. But it still got me from here to there. Now I own a Hyundai Sonata. Turbo Charged. And it gets me from here to there. Sometimes faster.

A few days ago I was given the opportunity to ride in a Corvette. Six gears. Over 500 HP. A variety of options and buttons. I experienced going from zero to 100 MPH in seconds. My head whipped and the tires chattered. I grinned.

But it still just got us from here to there.

There are all kinds of Christ-followers. Some are quiet and stay behind the scenes … sending cards of encouragement and taking time to pray for others. Others are more active … volunteering at church … working at the mission … taking someone to lunch. Then there are the Christ-followers who travel the world sharing the Gospel. Their name is familiar to many.

But bottom line … they are all just fulfilling the duty they were designed for.

“Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night … .” Philippians 2:14-15 (MSG)

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Project Design

I’ve been organizing my storage room. One thing I needed in there was a way to look at my yarns and be able to choose which ones I wanted to use in my next project. Some yarns are bright … some muted. Others are variegated … which means they have a lot of colors. I can use a multitude of other colors to work in with that kind of yarn.

I try to match the project with the intended receiver.

 

For the NASCAR fan dying of cancer, I used the NASCAR colors for his afghan. The baby being born into a family of Oregon Duck’s fans, I used green and yellow. A lovely young lady who is petite … but pregnant … I made a dainty round baby afghan. I’m currently working on a baby afghan whose mother has been described to me as “hippie”. It’s going to have a lot of fun colors in it.

 

Each project is created with a certain receiver in mind … and prayers are worked into the yarn as my fingers fly.

Don’t you think God is like that?

 

He looks at us … sees us as we really are … and chooses just the right circumstances and events to create a pleasing finished project. We are surrounded with His love and prayer as we live each day … while He works on completing us.

How wonderful that our pattern makes us a unique individual unlike any other. I’m comfortable in the Master Designer’s hands.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13 (NIV)

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