Beacon of Hope

 by Macy Johnson

“Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.

If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,”

but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?”

(James 2:15-16 NIV)

 

The choir loft was filling for Wednesday night’s rehearsal. Seated at the piano, I was thumbing through the new music from Kathleen, our director, when one of the members came in and announced, “There’s a lady who needs our help.”

 

Cindy shared that a woman followed her from the parking lot into the church. I dialed the home number of our congregation’s administrator and told him of the situation. He asked me for details, so I stepped down out of the choir loft and headed toward the gathering room behind the sanctuary.

 

She looked like she felt a couple of decades older than she was. Forlorn and chilled in spite of her bulky coat, the tall, thin woman told me she had been living in her car with her daughter for some time. It was too cold in the car and the shelters were full. The sheriff’s department told her to come to our church and we would help her. The administrator instructed her over the phone to go to a nearby hotel and have the desk clerk call him at home. He would take care of it.

 

I excused myself and returned to the choir loft to get cash out of my wallet. Several choir members added to the offering I gave the woman. I instructed her to return to the church if her needs were not met. We would be there another hour. I knew she was in God’s hands.

 

I will accept every opportunity to be a beacon of hope to those God brings my way. I hope you will, too!