Outside My Comfort Zone

Photos: smashing the leftover boxes, listening to instructions, packing up shoes, P and C were on box stacking duty-perfect fit as they looked at analytically, Mrs Starkey and C-amazing C had made one of these blankets for 8th grade leadership team and now it's off to Sierra Leone.

Today, I was pushed outside my comfort zone and I must admit it was a gift. I love to serve God, but I tend to focus on areas that are comfortable for me, safe, easy, and not things that cause me to go outside my self too much.

I'm willing to give everything to God, but in my heart I hope He never asks me to do the "hard stuff." Teach a Bible Study, no problem. Organize a meal for a grieving family, check. Pray out loud in a group or at a public place, got it. Minister to the poor, serve the homeless, wrap my arms around the orphans; this is where I'd love to say yes, but if I'm honest my real answer is God, can you find someone else?

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I love my comfortable life. I'm a snob. I am a person who desires creature comforts and doesn't like to expose myself to the real side of life. Just being honest.

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I live an solid middle class life and spend most of my time and life in that world. For the most part, it's surrounded by Christians who like me pray for the lost and the hurting, but hope that someone else is going to meet their daily needs.

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Today, my family had the opportunity to serve. We were able to help pack boxes for Sierra Leone and provide for men and women and children who have very little. I would love to tell you how proud I am of my family today. How awesome it was to see my kids just step up to the plate and serve with hearts wide open.

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But first, I have to be honest and tell you that the job I did today "sorting clothes" so they could be boxed by age and gender was way outside my comfort zone. I don't do used clothing. I'm not comfortable in a thrift store. I'm a snob remember. I like my things new or in the very least handed down from a relative. That's safe.

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However, I also need to tell you of the heartbreak inside me as I sorted through bags upon bags of clothing and household goods. Bags that were filled to brim with discards and leftovers. I'm speaking of myself here just so you know, but I was ashamed of the reality of how carelessly we give it away. Too many items had to be tossed away because they contained holes or were dirty or inappropriate. They weren't good enough for us to send overseas.

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How often have I given away my leftovers. Things I see as not worthy. This goes way beyond clothing and goods, it has to do with my time, talents and resources. Do I give away only what's leftover after I used my best for myself and my family?

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As we prayed over the massive boxes ready to ship to the people loved by God in Sierra Leone, it hit me so deeply that it's our leftovers that are becoming their bounty. Our castoffs will become their treasures. However, while the things in those boxes might be the rejected, the love, the hard work, the prayers and the hope for those receiving them are not castoffs at all, they are the very best.

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I'm still processing what all this means for me and my family. While I don't see myself packing a bag tomorrow and moving to the middle of Africa, I can see myself giving up some of my luxuries so that others can have the necessities. I'll be more careful when I give my things away and make sure that they are things that can be used and I'm not just discarding things no one would want.

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Stretching myself outside my comfort zone might get uncomfortable. It might lead me to listen to God's prompts to do things that are "scary" and more challenging, but I know one thing; the blessings I'll receive will more than cover any cost to my self control.

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Who knew all this could be learned sorting through bags of castoffs!

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Matthew 25:37-40 NIV

The the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give some thing to drink. When did we see you a stranger and invite you in or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?"

The King will reply, " I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."