INSPIRASUNS

I think I’ve mentioned before that our church sits right in the middle of a neighborhood in what we call “Old Naples”. The church building sits literally on a triangular piece of land with three streets connecting around it. Our parish hall, offices, and Sunday school wing are across the street. Homes surround our campus. I share that info just to give you a visual.

It’s not uncommon on any given day to see neighbors walking their dogs, taking bike rides, jogging, etc. Many times they walk around our property, stopping on the dock to take in the view, having a seat in one of the many teak benches around the grounds, or enjoying quiet time in our healing garden near the fountain. They feel comfortable, safe, and welcomed in these spaces. Personally, I think that is the Lord at work 🙂 .

Yesterday, a storm popped up in the late morning, and it was a doozy. It poured buckets, actually more like barrels, for the better part of two hours. Thunder, lightning, more buckets of rain, it just kept coming. It would let up just a tad, then another wave would come through. Other than the close lightning strikes, I welcomed the rain.

At one point, my facilities manager came up to the office, obviously wet from the rain. He mentioned that one of the neighbors had been out for a walk with her dog. Needless to say, she took shelter in the courtyard where our Sunday School rooms are. She grabbed a seat at the table under the overhang out of the rain, a port in the storm, you could say. They were safe and dry, and my facilities manager checked in on them from time to time to see if they needed anything.

This morning, as I thought about this neighbor finding shelter yesterday, I couldn’t help but think about our little church. It has been a port in the storm for so many over the years. It has been there through the happiest and the most difficult times in people’s lives. This port in the storm has been there for daily and weekly meetings for AA members for decades. We’ve celebrated Baptisms and weddings, and said final goodbyes to those who have gone on to be with Jesus. We’ve watched children and youth grow into adults, and start their families on the same journey.

I know that over the coming months, there will be some sadness as we take down and rebuild this little church. I also know that when we get on the other side, this little church, made stronger and more resilient, will be here for even more to find. It will stand strong as the song says, “on its one foundation, Jesus Christ our Lord”.

Have a good day, friends. Continued prayers for the return of sweet Emily Rea.

Isaiah 4:6
There will be a booth for shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain.