Friday evening, the Board of Common Ground and friends shared a meal and their hearts on what makes Common Ground special. Then Sarah led us on a journey through time as we shared some of the beginnings of Common Ground and traveled along the river of life to the present. Amazing to see all the people who have been a part of this adventure. Saturday morning the Board continued their journey as they talked about where God is leading us. Exciting times ahead!
Saturday morning, as Scott and Shawn went around visiting our friends living outside, they introduced their new visitor to them, mr brian! It was great to see our friends. Over these past few years, we have learned so much from our friends. Saturday was another blessing! Z who blesses us with meals to take to the guys, gave us some frozen cuts of meat she had left over. As our friends went through the meats, you would have thought we had brought them a million dollars! Turner had to go through every item, to pick out just the right cut for him. One camp, could not wait to get their fire going, and then they said, we are going to invite others to come and share our food! Isn't that amazing! Someone who has nothing, wanting to share with others their blessing! Wow, we were overwhelmed with the generosity of our friends! Smokey is still at the VA recovering.
Hate to say, but this was our last week with our children in the afternoons. Testing starts next week for the kids, so we said goodbye for this year. What a treat it has been to get to know each one of our children. Relationships that were formed will last a life time. Prayers for Allison and her family with the passing of her mother.
Tuesday evening the men of the community gathered for food and fellowship. Brother Rickie sharing the Word from Deuteronomy 11. Verse 13 says, "If you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today-to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul- then I will send rain on your land in its season . . " God wants to bless us, He wants the best for us, we just have to be faithful!
Thursday evening was magical. Not sure what was in the water, but chapel was special. Brother George got us started with praises from the community, Ms Abbie led us in song, Brother Chester shared the Word, the community was praising like no other time I had heard! We had lots of help with our meal and The Market. It was a blessed night. To top it off, we took Joey and Jerry to their new apartment! They had a chair and a couch but to listen to them you would think they had just moved into a castle! As we drove them to their new place, the excitement in their voices, oh look there is Dairy Queen! a book store! the bank! a hospital across the street! New surroundings, new beginnings, hopefully a new start!
I told Sarah, I did not sleep much Friday night, thinking of all the names I left off her river of life display. Common Ground is not about programs, not about things, not about projects, it is about people, relationships. Sarah had asked the group to break down the time line into people, events, ministries. She had colors for each category. As we completed our time line, she asked what color was the most dominant on the board? By far, the color which represented people, was the most prevalent. Our journey started in 1995, not many of us around now, but it was humbling to see the names of everybody who has been a part of our community.
One of the names I had not remembered Friday night, one I had left off, walked into the center Tuesday afternoon. They had not been to the building in eleven years! They were leaving St Vincent mall, normally taking another route to get on I 49, decided for some reason to get on the 70th st entrance. As they past by the building, they saw cars along the street, they stopped. As I was walking down the hallway on my way to see Smokey, a figure walked through the doors. I said Hi, how are you doing and kept walking. Then this person turned and said, Brian! I looked again, and it was Anna Jackson!
Ms Anna was the first lady of Faith United Methodist church. She always had a heart for our community, always a huge supporter of our ministry, was always there for us. Every Sunday morning, during announcement times at church, she would tell the congregation what was going on with Kitchen Angels, or tutoring, asking for the congregation to get involved. I remember one of our young girls who came for tutoring, always showed up in dirty or mismatched clothes. Ms Anna would take her into the clothing room or always had clothes for her to wear. Ms Anna always had a smile for everyone! I asked her if she had a few minutes to show her around her building. She said she had 15 minutes or so.
So we walked and talked. She remembers the old, dark walls in the dining hall, now bright and inviting. The dark paneling in the kitchen. She was amazed to see the expanded, cheerful kitchen we now have. The church parlor is now a place where children can learn. The pastor's office is where the library is, allowing the children to create all sorts of adventures. She was excited to see The Market, to hear about where it is a place where our community can shop, not a place where forms are filled out and a bag given to them. An hour later, we sit in the new, colorful chapel talking about the last eleven years!
Common Ground is about people, about relationships, about Jesus. The relationships we are making today will last a life time. The last eleven years for Ms Anna has been hard, but Jesus has brought her though it. Jesus has brought us this far, He will not leave us if we do not leave him. How exciting it is to be a part of something so special, unique and full of life! Amen!
Have a great week. Enjoy all Jesus has for you! God is good!
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