And so it begins: another chapter to what seems like as much of a tradition to any church as certain cherished worship services and delicious potlucks…the rummage sale. The general public will walk in and witness a rather organized chaos of household items and assorted clothing neatly distributed on tables, not realizing the pain-staking and patience-testing hours (and even days) it took for in-the-background volunteers to make it appear miraculously organized. And the rummaging will ensue, to see if someone else’s…filled-its-purpose-for-a-time item, can fulfill the rummager’s want or desire or need for whatever period of time. In the end, all such tireless sorting into sifting-through into humbling generosity will eventually lead to benefiting our youth as they venture to Minneapolis, Minnesota, next summer for the ELCA Youth Gathering.
Of course, before all that happens, there can be a rather holy process ensuing on the home front. Granted, some people are simply trying to make room for other items and…life taking up space. But some will take the time to sift through basements and closets and relive memories that were once forgotten, cherished family that were pushed to the mental backburner, remembering the moments that would impact them forever. Sometimes, it takes a simple hand-me-down or dust-covered miscellaneous whatever to bring it all back, leading to a trip down the precious memory lane that is anything but simple.
And so, hopefully, amidst all the rummaging-through, will be the holiness of thankfulness for past times and places and people, while also giving thanks for the children of God still insisting on giving of their time and love for a church and its youth, and clinging to the possibility that a future impact can be made not just with items going elsewhere, but all leading to the cause of new memories and experiences to be had; from the social interacting amidst the sorting and all the way to tens of thousands of teenagers in the Twin Cities soon enough. All a holy process to be sure, needing the help of God inspiring selfless and dedicated people to bring it all together. Thanks be to God for all of them (and you), indeed!