Turning Obstacles into Opportunities

Greetings LaSalle!

One of my favorite scriptures and confessions is in Psalm 27:13-14:

“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living; Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart wait for the Lord.”

God has and continues to be faithful to us, always giving us opportunities to receive the grace needed to allow us to have what we need when we need.

I have especially seen so many wonderful interactions, connections, conversations, and new ways to imagine and create during these particularly challenging moments in our world, country, city, neighborhood, and in our homes.

I have been blessed with the gift to somehow always see the good or the positive in situations and circumstances that appear negative and hopeless.

It’s just in me to think and see the best in others. And that has proven true, especially here at LaSalle and Cornerstone. I continue to see the Goodness of God all week. I see it every Wednesday at Breaking Bread when volunteers show up to serve and be proximate with our guests. I see it every other Tuesday, when volunteers show up to unload boxes of food and assist the elderly to get fresh produce, a hot cup of coffee and a pastry.

When SNAP benefits were cut, people reached and out asked how they could help. Every Monday thru Friday, there is a fully stocked table with Food for anyone in need. Just as soon as someone calls to share that they have a need, someone else shows up with bags of groceries. We have received countless calls from schools, companies, condominiums, and hotels asking if they can host food drives for our community. My answer is always “YES.”

Someone else committed to donating bags of fresh bagels and bread every Wednesday. A law firm has me on speed dial calling me every Wednesday with high end quality food from their catered events. This food always adds to our meals at Breaking Bread providing options for seconds and thirds.

On Tuesday of this week, I received a call from a law asking if we could receive an entire Breakfast meal including pancakes, eggs, potatoes, bacon, fresh fruit and juice, enough for 100 people. We were able to reach out to our neighbors to get the word out and folks started showing up for an unscheduled breakfast in Leslie Hall. The teachers and TLF staff came down one by one, folks walking by the building stopped in, seniors from the neighborhood, and members from the Zumba class joined us.

There was a woman new to the community who stopped in, skipped the food line and made a B line to me asking for prayer. After I prayed with her, I introduced her to other women that lived in her building and turned her over to them to be cared for. I was flying high. I actually witnessed the goodness of God in the room!

God is continuing to blow our minds with his goodness and provision.

We are hoping to ensure that anyone who is hungry will be feed. Anyone who is thirsty will receive drink. Anyone who needs community will feel welcomed and have a hospitable experience. Anyone in need of prayer will be embraced and covered.

I do not know what the future holds, but I am certain that God can trust us to care well for his sons and daughters. We can be trusted with flatbeds of food donations because God knows we will get it to those in need. We can be trusted to make sure our neighbors get winter coats, gloves, hats, and scarves to keep warm. We can be trusted to show up and see those unhoused and our seniors as our brothers and sisters and restore their dignity and humanity.

I am so very excited to be a part of creating opportunities out of what looks to be obstacles. I invite you to join me and others to open your hearts, open your hands, and open your eyes and be a part of God’s Goodness.

Let’s not get weary during these times; let’s do what God’s Word encourages us to do: “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart wait for the Lord.”

And while we wait, let’s continue to apprehend everything that has already been apprehended for us. Let’s show up; let’s trust that God is here and present and is waiting for us to reflect his Goodness!

- Pastor Julie