While relaxing in his recliner, a man receives an unexpected phone call. He can barely hear the person on the other end, as she is whispering. “I’m not talking loud because I don’t want your aunt to hear me. She has Alzheimer’s and didn’t want you to know. I think you need to come visit ASAP.”
This revelation was jarring to the man, but what brought even more urgency was the fact that his aunt was the primary caretaker of her husband, in which he found out was in home hospice. To top things off they were six hours away and he had a full work schedule in the days ahead.
Regardless, this was family, so he felt it necessary to do what he had to do. He cleared his schedule and drove down the highway, his mind ablaze with what needed to be done. How bad off were his aunt and uncle? Who oversaw their personal affairs? How long was it going to take to sort these things out? He had no idea what he was going to walk into.
The man arrived and wasn’t there more than five minutes when a member of his relative’s church came to offer support. Then three more showed up, one with a clipboard in her hand. “Here’s your schedule. I have a social worker lined up for tomorrow morning, then an appointment with an attorney in the afternoon to set up any legal paperwork. Reps from the funeral home are on their way to talk concerning your uncle.”
The coming days brought a steady stream of church members offering food, comfort, and fellowship. It was the fruit of Christian lives well lived by his aunt and uncle. People could not help enough, and testimonies of their character flowed like water from a faucet.
In just three days everything was done. Their personal affairs were arranged and the funeral set, as his uncle had passed. As the man began his drive home, he was grateful. How do I know? Because that man was me and I just described my first week of September.
I know it is in vogue to focus on criticizing the church. I’m contrarian, and weeks like this one are why. Don’t get me wrong, I know that there are issues that must be addressed. Yet I also believe the local church is our best option; there is nothing like its power. I have no idea what people do in times of need who don’t have one.
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” – Matthew 16:18
