GATHERING OF TROUBLED HEARTS

A few weeks ago I signed up as a volunteer for CCF’s anniversary service. Our city had been on its second week of continuous heavy rains, and on the day of celebration, it was raining HARD. The news spoke of floods all over the greater part of the metro, and people were suffering in many places. I’m fortunate to be able to drive that day. But on the way, my heart was troubled and I wondered, how can we rejoice when all these things are happening? Shouldn’t we move the celebration to a different day, when everyone would be dry and happy? I pondered on these questions, but something was telling me to show up.

When I got to the volunteer’s area, the mood was somber, busy, but almost quiet. Looking at the faces of some of the volunteers, I guess maybe they felt the same way. I tried to shake off the feeling by getting myself busy as well. Later, the team leader came in and invites everyone for prayer time. Great, I thought to myself, we all need a heart check, or at least a little encouragement.

We gathered in the still empty hall. And after a message of gratitude, the team leader addresses what our hearts were feeling. Then we proceeded for a short moment of worship. Singing to the Lord seems to wash away our worries. After that, everyone was instructed to roam around the hall and in faith, pray for the seats, for whoever God has worked out to be there that day. Experiencing that prayer time was what filled me.

People did come, it is the anniversary after all. But not as much as expected. Some came in drenched, others downcast. All were met with the smiliest of smiles, however. And I know, they were shared from troubled hearts to another. The church service went as scheduled, and I put in as much effort to experience it as much as doing the work I signed up to do. Looking at the sparse crowd, I believe that each person who was there, was meant to be there. Including me.

I came with a troubled heart, but through the night’s simple celebration, I’ve come to understand that it is through these gatherings that we gain strength to face our present troubles. Not with a posture of defeat, but with an attitude of rejoicing.