Back in the Saddle

I've been in Chicago for two weeks now. In some ways it feels like it's been forever, and in some ways I'm surprised it's been that long. Either way, home feels like a long way from here, and I'm definitely still in the adjusting phase of this new life.

Since I've been here, I haven't had much opportunity to be out doing service- the whole reason I came here. The monotony of doing office work and waiting to find a good ministry to plug into has been difficult for me. Waiting is something I've never been good at; patience is something I've been lectured about since I was a child. While I've made strides toward the patient direction, It's still a discipline I need to work on!

Luckily, today my boss Tim and I went to a soup kitchen called 2 Lil' Fishes in Uptown. Initially, I was pretty nervous because I knew that this particular sight required a lot of interaction. There would be no service line to hide behind, no dish washing in the back. Instead, I would be forced out of my comfort zone and into another person's world. While today was not the first time I have done something like this, it was the first time in a long time, which brought a degree of apprehension with it.

As always, God came through. We were able to connect with Ray and Beth over a game of Rummy. I was terrible, and everyone had a nice laugh at my expense, but that was fine- it was great to reawaken my desire to serve. It was beautiful to again be reminded that we are all people, with the same human conditions- I just happen to have a home. It's interesting how we let that one fact create barriers between people, when instead there could be relationships.

The thing that continually amazes me about service is the way it not only helps those at a shelter, but how the act of serving nourishes my soul. We are going to try to go to 2 Lil Fishes on Thursdays while I'm here. I'm very hopeful about the things that God is going to show me through this ministry!