Under the Broom Tree

A couple of years ago, I started the Elijah Project at my church in the Bronx.  The idea was to build up strength in those who are to do God's work, as we learn in today's reading of Elijah from the 1st Book of Kings.

Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, "Get up and eat." He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, "Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you." - 1 Kings 19:5-7

With just cake and water, Elijah's strength was replenished and he was able to press on.

When I started the project, my hope was to motivate our congregation to want to help the needy in our community, to reach out to those who were shut in and alone, and possibly too proud or frightened to get help.

We were partially successful.  The core participants remained dedicated, but small.  What I realize now is that I needed to start with those who were already motivated to help others.

At Caritas of Port Chester, where I work as Coordinator of Services, all of our volunteers are so motivated.  They do more than feed the hungry; they build up the strength of our clients, with food, yes, but also with smiles and conversation, fist bumps and hand shakes, and honesty and respect.

Strength comes from many places, and even a full stomach can cause someone to go back to sleep rather than to get up and go.

It is clear to me that the message I got from Elijah was to do more, reach more, be more involved, every day.  And I truly do gain strength from doing.

At the end of this month, we will be moving to a new, larger location, where we will be able to do more.  We will have the support we need to reach a larger audience with God's message of hope and help, love and nourishment.

The project has become very real for me.

I believe many of us who have been resting under our broom trees are ready to wake up, eat and take on the journey.  We may think we have to search to find the ministry and mission God has planned for us, when it may be right in our own back yard, in our own community, in our own family.

We are all His children and that makes us brothers and sisters with the world.  The world needs to wake up, eat, gain strength, and begin the journey together.

Are you ready?

More to come...