Standing Together: sharing grace and love

“ ...he is like a refiner’s fire ...; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver...” – Malachi 3: 2-3

"...the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth.” – Luke 3:5

My dedication to simple living backfired the day Atlanta’s temperature soared to 106 degrees, when the air conditioning in my aging sedan shut down. Having received a debit card as a gift, I headed to Aldi grocery. At check out I was satisfied looking at the conveyor belt full of low-priced bargains. My mood quickly changed when I encountered the unexpected, learning that the card was actually credit, not accepted at that store. My predicament was not pleasing to the cashier, nor to the customers in line behind me. I sorted through the groceries in order to pay for as many items as I could with cash; then I placed them in the “refiner’s fire” of an auto that would not cool. A variety of thoughts ran through my mind, and gratitude was not part of the mix. Then, as I recalled my experience working with a Standing Together team, I realized I had much to be thankful for, including the gift of the card. Standing Together is a family of volunteers committed to helping a person make the leap from homelessness to self- sufficiency. Our team had been working recently with a participant who often speaks of being grateful for the goodness in her life. After my Aldi adventure I recalled her example and the inspiration she has been to me. Paul writes to the Philippians that believers should share God’s grace and overflowing love with one another. Paul’s words describe my experience in the Standing Together team, especially the lessons in gratitude learned from our participant. Her words have helped me refine and purify my attitudes and thoughts, helping me smooth the rough edges of my character and straighten the crooked elements of my perceptions. Inspired by her, I moved one step closer to being pure and blameless. Advent anticipates the coming of Christ, who will bring righteousness and purity into the world. I am grateful to God for beginning that good work in my world, and to my new friend for voicing words that move that work closer to completion.