Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (NIV)
The aftermath of the falling of our beautiful, massive Blue Spruce reinforced ideas I already held through faith. The first was one that we had often experienced—good things can come from experiencing bad things. We often see this. Tornados are devastating, as we were reminded this week, and they are not good at all. However, communities rallying to help their neighbors is a good response that flows out of the bad circumstance.
The second idea was powerfully reinforced. Building relationships is a primary calling of people of faith. Almost immediately upon hearing of our tree falling, a dear brother from Littleton showed up with a generator to keep our food cold, since all the power in the neighborhood was out.
A couple of years ago, we were able to bless a family who lived in our neighborhood, at no real cost to us and with no thought of any reciprocal blessing to us. However, on the Sunday after the Saturday night the tree fell on our house, the husband of that family knocked on our door. “Would you like me to cut the tree and get it off your roof?” I replied, “I would love to hire you to do that!” “No, no,” he replied. “We just want to do it for you.” Before long he and several of his kids were at work, and soon were joined by two of his close friends, all with tree service experience. They were cutting branches and hauling them off.
About the same time our loving, wonderful family (daughter, son-in-law, grandson, son, daughter-in-law, and another grandson) joined the work-crew. They all worked very hard.
By late afternoon, the tree was off our roof. Here they are in a triumphant pose.
Our neighbors are on the left, and our family is on the right.
Relationships nurtured for a lifetime and relationships nurtured for a short time came together to bless us, and we were richly blessed, indeed!
It is well if we remember the importance of human relationships. Churches can get so caught up with programs, events, budgets, and buildings, that we neglect our prime calling to win people through love for Jesus. We are in the people business, where love, not status, is the only calculation. Looking to Jesus and listening to the Spirit to do the will of our Abba, will lead us to relationships of love with those we are called to love.
Tim Kelley