As mentioned yesterday, we followed through on plans to spend some time with our kids just loving our city. Robin and the kids got bundled up, grabbed our care packages, and our skates!
We meet at my office at about 4pm and went skating in front of the market. It's a great way to meet folks and have fun, and it's free!
Then we went to the MESS.
The MESS is a ministry of First Christian Reformed Church and Youth For Christ Streetlight Ministry. It's an awesome thing. My guess is that about 150 folks showed up to eat and hang out on a cold winters night. We enjoyed a great Christmas dinner with all the fixings.
I know what some of you are thinking- it's a soup kitchen, right?
No. It's a neighborhood meal.
It's neighbors with homes, and without homes, getting together.
Some of the folks gathered have their life put together.
Some of the folks don't.
But everyone gets together, eats, talks, give thanks to God, and sticks around to make art and music.
It's a beautiful thing.
So does that mean that Robin and I and the kids showed up to help cook and serve all those needy folks?
No. We showed up. We meet some folks who live just down the street from us. We talked about our life. They told us about theirs. Our kids walked around and gave out cards, cookies and care packages.
And nothing could have seemed more "normal" for our children.
It made a wonderful Christmas memory, and maybe the start of some new relationships.
And if you have a heart for the city and want to meet some folks in our community you may not otherwise have the blessing to bump into.
Just show up any Wednesday at 5pm, 513 Talbot St.
It's a bit messy, but it's life.
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