Conversion cannot be confined to the times and place I expect. I look forward to wherever it may be next. At the back end of the pandemic, we tiptoed back into real life. At Church of the Redeemer the very first gathering we had outside of masked worship was on the front porch of our church. We had a taco truck parked out front and we invited everyone. I will never my whole life forget that night. A hundred people showed up and ate tacos and just smiled at each other. "Look at us. We're sharing space. We're together. We're eating." It's all so simple isn't it? I don't ever want to take it for granted again, the being together. I was angry a lot during the pandemic. I may have believed in God but I wasn't so sure I believed in people anymore. I had hoped that this health crisis would be an opportunity for people to unclench our fists and look out for one another - to cross political lines, to take seriously the danger and uncertainty before us, to love one another in practical ways. I did not see that happening, and I found myself succumbing to my own judgmental nature and cynicism. The taco truck reminded me how much I love people.

When Love Shows Up: Weekly Reflections about God's Presence

The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer

WLSU, Believing and Eating - The Rev. Philip DeVaul

MAR 22, 202412 MIN
When Love Shows Up: Weekly Reflections about God's Presence

WLSU, Believing and Eating - The Rev. Philip DeVaul

MAR 22, 202412 MIN

Description

Conversion cannot be confined to the times and place I expect. I look forward to wherever it may be next. At the back end of the pandemic, we tiptoed back into real life. At Church of the Redeemer the very first gathering we had outside of masked worship was on the front porch of our church. We had a taco truck parked out front and we invited everyone. I will never my whole life forget that night. A hundred people showed up and ate tacos and just smiled at each other. "Look at us. We're sharing space. We're together. We're eating." It's all so simple isn't it? I don't ever want to take it for granted again, the being together. I was angry a lot during the pandemic. I may have believed in God but I wasn't so sure I believed in people anymore. I had hoped that this health crisis would be an opportunity for people to unclench our fists and look out for one another - to cross political lines, to take seriously the danger and uncertainty before us, to love one another in practical ways. I did not see that happening, and I found myself succumbing to my own judgmental nature and cynicism. The taco truck reminded me how much I love people.