The culture these days is that if kind acts or intentions are not broadcast on social media, no credit is noted or implied. If it’s not advertised, it’s invisible; it didn’t happen. Jesus’ ethics are the very opposite.
About two months ago, I joined four other members of our small group to serve a meal at UGM’s men’s shelter near Pioneer Square. Coming out of the pandemic, our group decided to be involved in this ministry in response to a recent UGM Sunday school presentation.
We all squeezed into Craig and Kathy Schoning’s Honda Pilot with the food loaded to the hilt in the trunk. We wedged in the trays of corn bread so they wouldn’t knock any heads in case of a sudden stop.
The only UGM location I was previously aware of is the one off Rainier Avenue in Seattle’s New Holly neighborhood. My senses were immediately heightened after stepping out of the car at UGM’s men’s shelter located on Second Avenue. If you’ve been there, you’d know what I mean. After that, we had another surprise.
When Craig knocked on the front door and told them we were the BAM (Bring A Meal) provider that night, the person at the door stared blankly and said “Huh?” After we told him who we were again, he then turned around and shut the front door on us. Following a few tense moments, and a series of short conversations with half a dozen other individuals, we finally discovered that they were double booked. The volunteer coordinator said they had never double booked in the entire time she has been on staff at UGM. Arrangements were made for us to drop off the perishables and we would save the canned goods for next time. We turned over the corn bread, bags of salads, and 100 pounds of baked potatoes. When it came time to turn over the chocolate chip cookies, I chided Craig to tell them we forgot them, but he was totally focused on accomplishing the mission.
On the way home, I learned this was old hat for Craig and Kathy.
Brother Craig has always been quick to volunteer and step up to coordinate these type of events. It turns out, if you want 200 baked potatoes, no problem. If you need some last-minute menu idea to feed 80-100 men, no problem. Craig has been a part of The Lord’s Table (another organization that feeds the homeless) for many years and only recently parted with his twelve crock pots as all the volunteers he had worked with in the past have either retired or dropped out, leaving him the last man standing. I never knew this about Craig.
I am aware of many caring and selfless acts by ECC members who take care of those in our congregation and the community. Much of this is done discretely. That is the way it should be. If you had my vantage point, you would weep at times, as I have, at the selfless sacrifices made by ECC members, whose left hand does not know what the right hand has given to the needy.
“When you help someone out, don’t think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively.” Matt 6:3