I had something kind of awesome that happened to me that morning on our way to church [on Faith in Action Sunday].  As you know, we live in the Temecula area, and every Sunday on our way to church, we stop at our local Starbucks to share a coffee on the way to church.  I have been really struggling with my health the past couple of weeks to the point that I ended up in the hospital earlier in the week for some tests.  It took everything I had to get out of bed that morning, and while I knew Steve could easily handle overseeing the care package event, I didn’t want to miss it because it is so near and dear to my heart.  Steve and I wore our Faith in Action t-shirts that day, and while we were in Starbucks that morning, this 30-year-old kid (yep, a kid to me) came up to me and asked us what we did at church as he had noticed our t-shirts.  I explained that we are members of Community, volunteer as senior youth group advisors but today we were participating in our semi-annual Faith in Action. I explained what that meant.  This young man had grown up Catholic but was searching for something else.  He asked me about churches in the Temecula area because so many are non-denominational.  In fact, he went to a church the previous week and left before services even started because he didn’t feel welcome and the church too big.  I talked to him about a couple of the Lutheran churches in the Temecula/Murrieta area that Steve and I had visited several years ago and liked when we first moved up to Temecula and were trying to decide what to do about church – meaning did we want to make the drive to Escondido at least once a week.  The young man was grateful and said he was going to try them.

I mention this story for a couple of reasons.  First, when we wear our t-shirts or any other symbol about our faith, we should be prepared because you don’t know when God is going to call us into action.  Second, I was actually truly amazed that a 30-year-old single male was searching for a church home because he wanted more out of life.  Third, I was concentrating on myself that morning and admittedly feeling sorry for myself because of my constant health struggles and frustrations.  This experience reminded me that God uses us at times when we least expect it, and when he does, it can help lift us up out of our own gray mood.  I will tell you that it was still a difficult day for me health wise, and I was so worn out I couldn't make it to Pastor K’s funeral.  However, I am still thinking about my conversation with that young man and find myself praying for him. I may never see him again, but I hope that he finds a church home like Steve and I have at Community.