Shine on!

"You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this....I'm putting you on a light stand....shine!" Matthew 5:14-16 - The Message

This a.m. in our round of church "visiting," we chose Christ Lutheran Church in which to worship. As we entered the nave it was easy to see with each and every pew draped with a colorful, hand-made quilt, something special was happening. Prior to the beginning of the service, a leader of their Christ Lutheran Church Women told us about the quilts.

Since last fall, the CLCW have met each Tuesday morning for a couple of hours to work with "found, left-over materials" to create 300 quilts. (This is NOT a large church and this seems a huge accomplishment.) The quilts are simple blocks sewn together by machine, batted, with a solid piece sewn on the back, the three pieces attached together through each square. They are not hand-stitched, made to be heirlooms quilts, but by any standard this is an extraordinary feat!

The CLCW had also produced a large quantity of cloth school bags and bath kits - the bath kits consisting of a rolled towel containing toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, and wash cloth. These gifts of love and kindness are sent as an offering to the Lutheran Women's Relief Distribution Center where they are dispensed to countries all over the world, including our country - many of the last couple of year's supply found homes after Hurricane Katrina in LA and MS. The women asked for contributions this morning to aid in the shipping costs involved with the distribution.

It seems to me that in this day and age when we feel so helpless in the face of major national and global issues that these women have banded together to DO something in the name of Christ and in the name of the church. It is unlikely that any given man, woman, or child will ever know from where their new quilt came, or even guess who made it for them - but in my mind, these quilters are acting out the gospel - they are "bringing out the God-colors in the world - they are shining!" They did not make these quilts for praise and honor but as true disciples of their Christ.

With this wonderful offering in mind, what can I/we do this week to bring out God-colors in the world? I don't know what to suggest or what I will do personally, but you may have something in mind even as you read my words - jump up on that lampstand - shine!