Presence at Major Times

Debbie Bickings, my hairdresser and friend, and I talked on Monday as she was cutting my hair.  She said that she had spent the weekend visiting her friend, Jennifer, who was dying, and she went to the house several times and sat by her bedside talking.   She added that she had no idea if Jennifer knew Debbie was there because she was way past the stage of allowing anyone to "know" such things.  But, Debbie said,  "I kept talking to her and telling her that the Lord was waiting for her and would hold out his arms in welcome."

I was proud of Debbie.   It's not an easy presence at those times.  Most people run like a hurricane to avoid those times.  But she went and went back and went back.   It wasn't "presence" she was seeking to give;  it was being drawn to do something that would ease Jennifer's final days!  I applaud Debbie in the doing!

Information systems abide everywhere.   Why can't there be  systems that would allow us to encourage the Debbies of this world, as well as the Jennifers?   And the children and family of the Jennifers who are trying to grasp what is happening in their own home and a diagnosis which has come out of the blue!   Christians and church-goers like me have spent hours in endless business meetings over where or if to move the organ and very little time preparing those same people to be a Presence in this world that is meaningful!   No wonder, churches are dying at the seams and appearing less and less relevant to the non-pew sitter!

Come alive, information systems!   If we really have Good News, let us use it to spread the word without asking for money or fame!  

  And thanks, Debbie!