What do you think?

'What about suffering,' she asked. 'Is it necessary?'

'Well,' the conversation continued, 'in suffering we may just become tender, aware of our vulnerability and thus our need for both God and community.'

'Yes, perhaps suffering is necessary.'

Twice this year ~ September and February ~ calamity has struck. {With my tongue in my cheek, I am totally ignoring a little situation called a pandemic.} On Coolidge Street mayhem included immense old oak trees crashing in the middle of weather-events. On both occasions those fallen oak giants managed to barricade off cars, driveways, actually the entire street.

Power lines down. Internet down. Cars hit or crushed. Property damaged.

Suffering? Check.

Vulnerable? Check.

And then it happened…

One neighbor stepped out with a chainsaw. Another had a trailer. There were rakes and pitch forks, scoop shovels, brooms, wheelbarrows and a herd of folks. These are people that we live beside but disaster and suffering and vulnerability gave us the opportunity to serve with each other, to serve each other, to be served.

Suffering allows vulnerability. And when we are vulnerable, community become necessary in new and vivid ways.

Lord, we need each other; we need You. Forgive us when we forget.

Pastor Leah