Some of the most enjoyable calls I take at Church House come from people in our parishes and dioceses who are absolutely brimming with a spirit of generosity—they want to share something, support a new ministry, or deepen an existing ministry in their own diocese or parish and they just need a little information from the national church to point them in the right direction.
This morning’s call came from Eileen Colborne, the ACW President in Central Newfoundland. There’s nothing like a fired up Newfoundlander to lift one’s spirits in the morning. Even the greyest, dullest day the big smoke can dish up cannot sour the spirit of a Newfoundlander. Across the miles and over the telephone, their joy for living is palpable and wonderfully contagious.
Today Eileen was on a mission to make sure a bin of woollen hats and scarves makes its way up north and we’re going to work together to connect the dots and make it happen. In addition to the woollies, Eileen and I talked about how she likes to write letters and get other people “worked up”. Whether for Queen’s College or the diocesan summer camp, she routinely takes joyful, faithful initiative that inspires others in her dioceses to get involved and to contribute in ways large and small.
Apparently she was even successful in persuading a young man to fly to Haiti with a single outfit on his back-filling his suitcase instead with items brought in through a Diocesan clothing drive for school children. I think Eileen could talk a Bay Street lawyer out of a custom made suit if it would do someone else some good-and since that would be quite fun to watch I might have to invite her to Toronto for a visit very soon.
At a recent conference I attended, one of the guest speakers shared a very apt Winnie-the-Pooh analogy to describe the current mood of church people. It was suggested that there are a lot of Eeyores among us, bemoaning their thistle-laden world. Heads around the table nodded because the imagery resonated with so many of us and we agreed this sad reality can be down-right depressing most days. So to stumble across a generous soul like Eileen—someone who is more like a cross between Tigger and Mrs. Kanga, working faithfully for the whole church and nothing but the church—was a treasured moment indeed.
In spite of those who are down on the church, there are still lots of us who have hope and faith even amid the challenges and difficulties. When we find ourselves getting a little tired out or discouraged by church life we may need to work that much harder to rise above the Eeyores, and scan the crowd for people like Eileen, with whom we can walk side-by-side, if only to remember who we are and why we’re here.
Of course, if you’re actually walking with Eileen herself, you might want to scuttle aside a change of clothes somewhere—I have a feeling you might need it.
