Last year I was honored to have been invited to become a part of the regular rotation of Preachers serving The Village at Orchard Ridge (formerly known as Heritage Place) on Sunday afternoons. The small worship services are coordinated by some dedicated volunteers who are doing some amazing work for God's kingdom right where they are. I am blessed to be a part of their small congregation by offering a weekly Bible study and visitation ministry.

Each week at Bible study we have a time set aside to pray together. This time has become something quite special to me and I love to hear both their praises and their prayer requests. As is the case with an aging generation the bulk of the prayer requests are for health and healing but every once in a while they throw a request at me that catches me completely off guard. I've come to think that they do it on purpose just to see if I'm really paying attention. Take last week for example. We prayed for a water buffalo. Yes you read that correctly. We prayed for a water buffalo. By name. I think it was Humphrey but don't quote me on that. It wasn't until 3 days later that I learned that they'd used benevolence funds from their weekly offering to purchase a water buffalo from Heifer International. I'm sure that they won't let me forget that one anytime soon.

At one of our meetings I was particularly surprised when one of the ladies asked me to pray that God would inspire the residents to cultivate a servant's heart in each of them. To say that I was absolutely stunned when the majority of the room agreed with her wouldn't be far from the truth. What she was asking for wasn't making sense to me. I'd only been a part of this group for a few weeks but I couldn't possibly miss the number of folks whose servant's hearts adorn their sleeves. The residents routinely watch each other's pets, run each other's errands, monitor each other's health status and tend to each other during times of illness, grief, loneliness and sadness. Just like a small town they know the comings and goings of most everybody else and if something changes they're right on top of making sure it's not a change that needs the support of a friend. They tend to argue just like any family and they don't all get along with everybody else but they pray for each other regardless of their differences. It's actually quite amazing to watch from an outside point of view.

As our study group was wrapping up I shared my thoughts with them. Some of them laughed, others gave me that look that any girl with a Southern Grandma knows (that one that says, "Oh Honey"), and our one and only gentleman (in a room of 12) asked me if I'd, "had a nip of spirits" before our meeting.   As most of them fled without letting me in on their thoughts I continued to wonder why they didn't see what I was seeing. Fortunately, I was able to count on the trusty group of women that always stay behind to offer me well placed tidbits of wisdom to clue me in on where I'd gone wrong. I began to pick their brains and I quickly realized that to them taking care of each other is just a part of what they do. It's become so ingrained in them to serve that it doesn't seem extraordinary to them anymore.

As the conversation continued I knew it would do me no good to try and convince them to see it my way. I could have debated with them until I was blue in the face and it would have gotten me nowhere. When the group finally broke up I took a moment to rest in their cozy little chapel and talk with the Father. As I quietly shared with Him my own personal prayers for these folks I've come to know and love so well He opened the eyes of my heart. I was finally able to understand their point of view and In that moment, right when I least expected it.

As I closed my time with God one of my favorite ladies came and sat down next to me. She placed her hand upon mine and said, "we are all broken vessels and our cracks let the light of Christ shine through for others to see. Our service to others is a beam of light filling just one of those cracks. Others can see it but our eyes are so filled with the glory of His gift that we just can't see the crack in ourselves anymore."

Heavenly Father, make me a broken vessel that I can shine your light for others. Help me to be the kind of person who has such a pure servant's heart that I serve others without even noticing I'm doing it. Let my heart be filled with such joy from that service that I continually strive to find other ways in which you would lead me serve. Amen.