Faith Matters
Steve Sheely, Pastor
Faith Matters
By Steve Sheely
Rolling Hills Baptist Church
My brother-in-law is a pastor. We share stories about our adventures and misadventures. Apparently, he officiated a funeral last week -- and had to dig the hole for the remains! Chalk that up as another "they-never-taught-me-this-in-seminary" moment.
Our church is blessed to sit on six acres in north Fayetteville. This space allows us to do things we could not do with a smaller campus. We have a shiny, spacious playground, for example. We host a soccer league that reaches dozens of at-risk kids. Frequently, people drop by to chip golf balls or play Frisbee with their dogs. Someday, perhaps, we will build a "Faith-and-Fitness Trail" around our property.
Our latest project is interesting. We are starting family gardens. These are 48-square-foot raised garden beds for families in our church to grow vegetables and show their children where food comes from. Even though we are only starting with nine gardens, there is a lot of enthusiasm about this project. Our children's Sunday school classes will have a garden, which is great because there are so many stories and parables in the Bible about farming, seeds and harvest.
Today, we unloaded 8 cubic yards of mulch. Later this week, we begin the dubious effort of removing Bermuda grass. This weekend, we are building the garden boxes. Next week, the soil arrives.
There are many days I sit in my office thinking deep thoughts. I carefully craft theological words and Biblical precepts. I write sermons, prepare Bible studies and small group guides -- always putting ideas on paper to encourage my church and help them grow to be more like Christ. Many times, my life as a pastor is lessons, lists and documents. It can become quite conceptual, as though my faith is limited to the realm of ideas and abstractions.
When I read the stories about Jesus, something always grabs my attention. He did not sit at a desk or limit his ministry to ideas and concepts. Yes, he spent a lot of time preaching and teaching, but he did much more than that. He stayed busy. He used his hands. He healed people and turned over cash registers and manipulated wind, water and wine. He hugged children, made emphatic points with objects and washed his disciples' feet. His life was deeply engaged in the real world.
So it feels good to put on my work gloves and grab a shovel. It feels right to fire up my circular saw. There is something holy about the sun on your face and dirt under your fingernails when you are helping others. It is good for all of us when our faith moves out of the cerebral ether and into the dirt ... or the paint can or the soup pot.
Maybe we will enjoy homegrown salsa and homemade pickles. Maybe not. But, most importantly, we will work together, grow food and share it. And we'll learn that not all of our best moments with God can fit on a piece of paper.
NAN Religion on 03/29/2014