Need and Goodness

It has taken me a bit of time to process my thoughts so pardon my delay on this.

Last Saturday St. Marks United Church of Christ in New Albany held a Health Fair. Our Mission Committee worked incredibly hard to get the word out to the community and the communities around us, and recruited volunteers from the congregation as well as others in the area.

Lunch was made and served in our Saturday Soup Kitchen and clothing was distributed from our Clothes Closet. Women were given assistance in learning about their health, blood sugars were taken, eyes were examined and people received free glasses, free massages were given as well as free haircuts. The people who came were greeted and welcomed and led around by ‘shepherds’ who assured that people got what they needed and, above all, were treated with dignity and respect.

We estimated that over 300 people were served last Saturday. A little boy walked around showing off his freshly cut head of hair; one woman shrieked with joy that she could actually read the Bible that was given to her. It was an amazing day.

It was an amazing day for people who came in to receive aid. They were treated with dignity and respect from start to finish. They went by their names and not their numbers. They were not herded like cattle, but they were treated as brothers and sisters by people who cared for them. If folks proved to be difficult everyone just tried harder with them. People came with needs and many needs were met and the guests were blessed.

But even more blessed were those who worked that day. A shriek of joy from a woman who can see again is the finest hymn ever sung. A child’s smile because he has a fresh haircut is the most beautiful picture ever created.

It was a day where need and goodness came into contact with each other and for a few hours, in one small place in the universe, life was a bit better.