If We are the Body....

After most Sunday church services, I like to go to the Dollar Store in Fairview - to make sure I'm prepared for the week ahead with any key essentials (toothbrush, shampoo, shaving cream, vitamins....). There is a young lady who works the register on Sunday mornings, she can't be more than 19 or 20. We generally don't have much to say to each other - she's not the nicest, most customer-focused person going, and while I always say hello to her and ask her how she is doing, truth be told I don't think I've really cared. Still, I'm nice to her and I smile. And I always tell her to have a great day. Easy for me to say, because I get to leave there and return to my family and enjoy the rest of my weekend while she toils for a full shift making minimum wage.

Today, I asked her how she was doing - again, not really caring - and her answer surprised me. "I'm thirsty", she replied. "REALLY thirsty". I could have left it at that, but I felt compelled to ask why. She replied that in her haste to get to work by 8 AM she forget her purse. She had no money to buy a drink and she still had several hours left on her shift. As I finished paying for my "essentials", I thought about what I should say as I left - "Have a great day!" didn't seem so appropriate. "I hope you find something to drink" didn't seem too helpful either. I think I just said, "see ya"and I walked out the door. On the way out, I couldn't help but think that I was in the process of blowing a golden opportunity. This fellow human being had just shared a need - and I was walking out on her. I went to my car, grabbed two dollars, went back inside and put in down on the counter and I told her the money was for a drink. Her face lit up and the gal who never smiles at me suddenly broke one out. If you remember watching "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", when the Grinch finally has his come to Jesus moment - it was a bit like that. And I turned and walked away. Starting up my car, the radio came on and they were playing "If We are the Body" by Casting Crowns....

But if we are the Body, Why aren't His arms reaching, Why aren't His hands healing, Why aren't His words teaching. And if we are the Body, Why aren't His feet going, Why is His love not showing, them there is a way.

And I thought to myself, it's not enough to simply ask people how they are doing. In a world of hurting and lost people, each of us is accountable for one another. "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?"......We need to be prepared for an answer which might require us to care. And act.