Proud to be a Railroader!

Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor. (James 3:17, 18 MSG)

I just love this paraphrase. It states what I believe is the key to a Christ centered life.

My community, Garrett, Indiana set a great example how these verses can be lived-out today. Tonight we hosted a Special Olympics basketball game. It was like nothing I've ever seen. Our entire community was there acting like it was the state finals. We had a rowdy band, spotlight introductions, great cheerleading, and fans that truly got into the game. These special men and women were treated with dignity and honor they deserve. It's hard to describe the looks on their faces as they took the court. I am so proud of my community for taking the time to do this. It was an authentic outpouring of love for a group of people that are often forgotten and neglected. 

As Christians we aren't always the most caring people. We don't always get along well with others. We are not always gentle and reasonable. My own life has had moments of hot and cold in terms of my Christian living. It is hard work and is made even harder when you have to develop relationships with "the enemy" or the "unloveable". It is easy to ignore and ridicule the unfortunate and handicapped. But we are called to go beyond ourselves to serve people. All people. We are called to bring light into darkness, joy into hopelessness. Jesus did exactly that.

Tonight my little Midwest town raised the bar for those that follow Christ. We need to treat everyone with dignity, honor, and respect. We need to follow the gentleness and consistency of our Lord when dealing with those near and dear, but also with those that are tough to love. Thank you, Garrett, for loving beyond yourselves for nothing in return. Thank You Garrett for your willingness to serve others in a selfless way!

 I am proud to be a Railroader!