Touching
I thought of Buechner's quote up top today as I photographed the yarny goodness that had come in from three Angels this week. I've been thinking quite a bit these past couple of weeks about the people we serve, after learning that the number of folks coming to our soup kitchen, food pantry, and homeless shelters shot up dramatically in August. Some had never been to such a place before, some had come in the past but had gotten shakily to their feet again, and some were on harder times than they had been before.
There were discussions as to why this was happening -- it's unusual in the summer, when more hourly or day labor jobs are available in lawn care, construction, and food service. The conclusion was that what we are seeing is the result of the continuing down turn in the economy, and that the dark time will be around for many of the people we serve for some time to come.
Dark times can knock on anyone's door, sometimes in the most unexpected ways. It may not be because of economics, the darkness may be relationship- or health-driven. But I saw recently on two separate occasions just how powerful that touch can be in turning the tide on darkness. And that power is just what I saw in the boxes and bags that came in from our Angels.
Angel Lisa from Lake Forest dropped by a bag of "spa bag innards" from her friend Darcy, as well as these:
Angel Julie Scigalski from Chicago brought over some wonderful yarny goodness -- just look:
Angel Hazel Lindsay from Australia posted a box of love before she left to go to Scotland to help care for her aunt who is quite ill. Some beautiful things were in there:
My spirits were lifted greatly just by thinking how these love gifts from Lisa, Julie, and Hazel may save the day for someone in darkness. I thank them for that. What a great power all of you Angels have -- you, too, are very likely making something right now which God will use in an amazing way for someone who is in the darkness. I've seen it happen, I've seen the miracle, and I am so very, very thankful that each of you is so willing to become that touch for others!