What am I doing?

A familiar question, as volunteers, and staff alike get acclimated to life inside of Hope Street. That question is usually accompanied with - is what I am doing beneficial? 

In our American culture we value productivity. We place a heavy emphasis on numbers, and all too often allow that to determine the level of success. Inside the Greenhouse for People culture there’s an opportunity for that temptation to get disrupted. 

Suddenly you come face to face with one person, or maybe none. You address envelopes, clean a bathroom, or check someone in at Shechem only for them to walk straight to the gym. The mundane grinds on you, and yet - it’s those very moments that speak the loudest to our community. A hand addressed envelope says we see you, to the supporter who gives their hard earned money to support the work we do. A clean bathroom reminds people they are worth having nice things. And checking someone in at Shechem helps the whole community feel safe. These are just three of the many different ways volunteers and staff alike step into the daily rhythms with grace and love. Some days, it’s easier to see the value in these tasks, than others. For the days we struggle, may this be our prayer: 

Lord, as people show up in our spaces - help them to experience you. To see you, in the simple things, in the faces that come and go and in the moments when it is quiet. Soften our hearts to what matters most to you. Remind us of our purpose, and in the same breath the value of our presence. Father, if you have called us to show up, help us do it well. Give us the grace to lean in, to trust, and to deeply believe you are a God that wastes nothing. 

Amen,

Ash