Selfless Faith

A friend of mine posted the following on his facebook page:

Ponder:  What is the difference between "faith" and "selfless faith"?  Where do I expend the majority of my faith?  Do I spend more time believing for me, myself and I or believing for others?

This definitely gave me something to really reflect upon.

I have been humbled seeing people from all walks of life still coming together helping those who have lost so much due to Hurricane Sandy for almost two months already.  So many are still displaced; if fortunate – they are staying with family, if unfortunate – they are staying in make-shift shelters in school auditoriums, cafeterias, churches, etc.; many of which are beginning to close and families still having no place to live.

So many are willing to serve and give all without needed recognition.  I’ve read stories, seen news clippings, and heard personal stories about some who totally lost their homes, and yet continue to work tirelessly helping others who are worse off than themselves.

So where is my heart?  Am I praying for my protection – or the protection of others?  Am I reaching to God for blessings and favor for myself – or for others?  The faith that I hold so dear, and believe so strongly with all my heart – is it a selfless faith?

With the destruction of this massive hurricane, I’ve been given an opportunity to look deep in my heart – serve others – reach out with physical needs, emotional needs, and spiritual needs.  An opportunity to live my faith – show others the servant’s heart of my Lord & Savior - walk the walk and let his light shine through me.

I believe throughout our life, we are all given opportunities such as these to truly see our faith in action.  Whether or not we are actual victims of such disasters or not – it’s a time to see whether we have “faith” or “selfless faith.”

Where is my heart and am I living a selfless faith?

My community organized a disaster relief program, collecting much needed items for those affected by Hurricane Sandy.



While staying with me due to losing power for 14 days, my Dad had the opportunity with me to help others as well.

 



Adelphi U. students sorted donations for delivery to areas damaged by Hurricane Sandy.



North Shore Animal League America deployed their emergency response team early as the hurricane made landfall.  They dispatched two mobile units, which offered safety to pets of those staying in shelters that did not allow pets.  The mobile units provided peace of mind and assurance for evacuees that their pets were taken care of, and close by.

I served some meals to my elderly neighbors – opening up a chance to visit and let them know they are thought of and cared for. This also helped calm a very anxious woman who was much stressed hearing about Hurricane Sandy repeatedly on the news.

 



The Bowery Mission organized an event in conjunction with the Queens Pastors Network and served 1,650 Thanksgiving meals in the Hurricane Sandy-affected areas of Far Rockaway, Rockaway, and Coney Island! Members of my church volunteered to help with The Bowery Mission in Rockaway as well.



 

Devastation and Healing Memories

I live in a very large apartment development (home to 2500 families).  The one thing I've always loved is that this development has always been very unusual compared to the many other huge NYC apartment and housing complexes.

Most are all concrete - chain link fences – barren and cold.  But our development has shrubs around buildings, grassy lawns, gardens and massive trees (most planted in the early 1950's when the development was first built).

It’s always been a beautiful place in the spring with flowering trees - summer with tons of greenery - and autumn with beautiful foliage. 

Even the cold winters showed beauty with snow on the many branches throughout our neighborhood.

So, after Sandy calmed down and left, I ventured out – of course with camera in hand – and I saw so many trees were down.  As I walked around it pulled at my heart.

When Hurricane Irene hit, we also lost many large trees.  Some that many remembered being planted when our development was first built, some that marked a timeline in their lives.  But the loss I was seeing now was so much more.  Each building has a front area with large trees & shrubs and many have gardens that the residents have maintained; giving each building a look of its own.

So many of the trees, which indentified each building, were now lying on its side.  Massive roots were pulled from the earth – ripping the surrounding lawn and even sometimes the concrete pathways nearby.  It amazed me at the power this storm must have had – to literally uproot massive trees in this manner.
 



I took many pictures – but they definitely don’t show the devastation as seen by my eyes.  To someone else looking at them – a tree here and there, and another doesn’t mean what it meant to me.  The sizes of these trees are so massive that some of their pulled up roots were 8-12 ft high - sometimes reaching past the 1st story of nearby buildings.



Walking around brought me back to when I first moved here in 1975 – reluctantly, since I didn’t want to live in a huge development.  But once I settled in and made this my home, the community environment was very special.  When I had my children and was at home with them, the neighborhood and neighbors became an extended home and family.  My children grew up with playgrounds always filled with children at any given time – many of which they are still friends with.  I developed life-long friendships with the Moms and Dads around.  We’ve shared our children’s milestones; graduations, weddings, grandchildren, etc.

As I walked around I could almost hear the laughter of our children.  I could see my son, climbing one of the trees and coaxing others to join him.  I could see me having a picnic with my daughter under the shade of a huge maple tree.  I could see myself finding rest on a nearby bench, under the umbrella of a huge tree; where conversations began and are still going on.  I could see the many birds and squirrels making their home in our neighborhood.  And I could see the many seniors, sitting outside on specific benches which gave them shade on hot summer days; catching up on all the neighborhood gossip.

It’s funny how the loss of some fallen trees in a neighborhood can rekindle memories of so many years ago.  It is sad that these trees are gone, never to shade, never to bloom in the spring, never to house some birds. 

But, I think about all the unfortunate people who lost so much more during this storm; loss of loved ones, their homes, etc.
 

Memories are sometimes all we can hold on to.  Thank goodness the devastation of any storm – no matter the magnitude - can’t take away the special memories we hold onto in our hearts.  Something to “remember when.”  Something to help heal when loss is so heavy. 

I am saddened by the devastation Sandy brought everywhere, but am encouraged that special memories can stay with us always.  Hopefully, in time, many will be able to hold on to those memories, rather than the recent horrors they’ve experienced.  Hopefully, in time, precious memories will replace recent memories and will help each heal.

An Opportunity to Serve

For days all we saw on the news was the path of three major storms which were heading towards each other – only to cause a super storm along the Northeast Coast.

Each day we would see more detailed paths – which kept showing major problems over the Tri-State Area.  For days prior to the storm – the skies were an eerie grey – there was a quiet in the air that was strange – and temperatures stayed pretty mild.

This weekend, reports were pretty definite that this storm was not only going to hit the NYC/NJ/CT area – but it was going to cause some pretty serious damage.  In certain shore areas and known flood areas, warnings to evacuate were consistently being announced.  Frustration continued from the authorities, due to folks not taking this seriously and refusing to evacuate.  Pleas that staying behind would only cause emergency rescue crews to be in unnecessary danger themselves if needed to respond to an emergency were repeated again and again.

Sunday afternoon our Mayor announced that the entire MTA would be shut down during the afternoon then completed early Sunday evening.  Schools were closed for Monday – many businesses closed as well.

I decided that I would stay home on Monday, to avoid any danger and if anything should happen with my car – I would be left with absolutely no way to travel home.

Monday morning was dark, eerie and windy.  I needed to walk my dog; therefore I stepped out for a few minutes.  I was surprised to see how windy it actually was.  The main part of the storm was predicted to hit my area starting at 2PM and continuing throughout the day, that evening and the next day.  

I was alerted to go down to my parking lot and check to see if my car was damaged by fallen trees.  When I went down – I saw many cars under the fallen tree behind where I park my car.  My car was not touched.  I also saw many other trees that had already fallen – and the actual storm was yet hours away.

 

When I returned to my apartment – I figured I take advantage and catch up with housework, laundry, closet organizing, etc.  Then I received a call from my management that the laundry rooms were being closed, and they suggested we avoid using the elevators (in case of a power outage).

I thought of all the many things I could get accomplished – and I then remembered my elderly neighbors.  I knocked on the door of each, and asked if all was OK and if they needed anything.  Just seeing their smiles and hearing their appreciation warmed my heart.  I went back to my apartment, and thought I would do what I love most – and also be able to serve my sweet senior neighbors.

I pulled out a massive pot, carrots, celery, and onions.  I searched through my pantry to see if I had any chicken stock – pulled some chicken out of my freezer and began.  Before long, homemade chicken soup was simmering on my stove.

As the aroma of homemade soup filled my apartment – I remembered the last time I brought homemade soup to my neighbors.  I brought them each a couple of containers.  They were so overjoyed and have been talking about it ever since. 



 

The last time I brought each of my neighbors homemade soup, Frank, my neighbor across the hall – returned my containers (hung on the door knob to my apartment), washed clean, including a note tucked inside of one: “Nancy – this soup was delicious. But I enjoyed it even more because you thought of me. Thank you so much. – Frank.”

Ethel, who lives next door to me – called me and left me a voice mail message.  In her cute, yelling, elderly voice: “Nancy, this is Ethel, your neighbor.  I just finished some of your soup. Chicken soup is my favorite meal in the whole world. I am glad I have another container that I can have more another time.  Thank you so much Nancy.”

So Sandy may be here to cause havoc and destroy – there may be many stories of damage, loss and hardship.  But I was given a day to be home, to touch the lives of 2 very sweet elderly people in my building and let them know they are loved.

Thanks Sandy!

The God of Relationships

                          

My church holds an annual family retreat each Labor Day Weekend at Camp Deerpark; a weekend that offers spiritual, emotional and physical renewal to everyone in our church.

 

 

 

 

Camp Deerpark is a treasure in Westbrookville NY.  It’s nestled in 200 beautiful mountain filled acres, with wooded trails, fields, deer, birds, and many other signs reminding us of the amazing beauty and creation of God.







Most everyone in our church attends this weekend get-away, enjoying an escape from the busyness of life back in New York City.  We stay in Spruce Lodge, or motel units tucked away in this hidden refuge.  We are given many places we can retreat to for some personal time in God’s Word and prayer.

 

 

We are served amazing meals which are prepared for us each day.  Everyone from the tiniest baby to the senior citizen enjoys this time together as one big family.

 

 

 

Our Pastor and his wife get a chance to relax a bit more than usual, being we are also blessed to have a guest speaker teaching throughout the weekend.

 

Our worship team assures us of an awesome time of worship in the chapel, where we can celebrate and praise the amazing God we serve. 



 









As I was away during this retreat – of course with camera at hand – I took tons of pictures.  I tried to get a sampling of all that went on during the weekend including the many special, fun times we had with each other during this escape.

 

One of my favorite blessings during these retreats has always been having so much more time with each of those attending; living together, eating together, worshipping together, and having tons of fun together.

 



We usually have some organized games and activities, as well as spur of the moment games that may occur, giving many a chance to play.







When I returned home and was taking a look at my pictures, I saw I had captured many special moments of many walking and talking, sitting and chatting, laughing, sharing, praying, and opening their hearts with one another.

Opportunities for in-depth conversations are endless, being we are all here, with no place to run off to.  Sharing what’s in our hearts with close friends as well as those we don’t usually get much time with, opens the door for new, deeper relationships; continuing to grow, once we return home.

 

I realized that was what makes this weekend the most amazing time ever.  It was a reminder of the God we believe in, and how personal he is with each of us, and how amazing his spirit calls us to love one another as he loves us.

 

 

The God we follow is a God of relationships.  He doesn’t sit high on a throne, pointing his finger, condemning, and getting frustrated with us.  Rather, he is a God who reached down to the world, with a heart of forgiveness and redemption, yearning for a personal relationship with each person he touches.  He calls us, he loves us, and he saves us with the Saving Grace of his only Son, Jesus Christ.  He opened the veil of separation between sinful mankind and His Holiness, allowing us to approach him with confidence in a personal relationship with the Most High God.

 

How amazing is this?  That through His Son, Jesus Christ, we can truly be adopted sons and daughters and receive his inheritance of eternal life baffles me.  That we can come to him, face-to-face, and he hears us and responds with his guidance and love.  That he’s given us His Holy Spirit, as a comforter and counselor. 

 

I was reminded that our God has placed me in his family; to share our joys, cares, and burdens, share the passion of the Lord, encourage one another in our faith, support each other in prayer, reminding each other that God loves us at all times.  This family I was placed in is to help me serve the Lord for the purposes of His Kingdom.  The Lord has abundantly blessed me.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

- John 13:34-35