I was privileged to attend an unusual birthday celebration last week. The birthday girl is a single mom, and her life was hard even before she became a paraplegic about eighteen months ago. She is on our church's outreach list, but only a few people in our group knew her. We discussed what we might do to get better acquainted, and hit on a plan to visit her for a cook-out. Christy gave us her enthusiastic permission, and last Friday evening we loaded up a grill, ice chest, tables, chairs, food, and birthday gifts and carpooled to her home.
It wasn't a typical way for the young adults in our class to spend a Friday evening, but they participated whole-heartedly. Maybe it's because we've been working our way through Max Lucado's book Cure for the Common Life, but what I took away from that evening was how beautifully each individual's gifts and talents sparkled in their ministry to Christy. Each person made a unique and indispensable contribution to the evening. Christy said it was the best birthday she'd ever had.
That is how the body of Christ is supposed to work. It was a moving thing to witness.
