Losing Self

Four years ago today I left Tupelo, Mississippi to travel to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to offer a hand in the cleanup after Hurricane Katrina. Little did I know then that journey would begin a relationship which would ultimately bring me south to a new beginning. I arrived, first, in Bay St. Louis to visit Rick and Lynn Brooks. Before I could find their parsonage, I had to negotiate with the Mississippi National Guard that I had legitimate business coming inside I-10. When I finally got to Rick and Lynn’s home, which had received eight feet of flood water, I discovered that the difficult work of “mucking out” had been done.

I would return several more times over the several months as First United Methodist Church, Tupelo, partnered with Main Street, Bay St. Louis to restore their home. In the midst that recovery work, Bishop Hope Morgan Ward invited me to become the District Superintendent of the Seashore District. It’s been quite a journey. We’ve got an abundance of stories. We’ve come a long, long way, thanks to the wonderful people called Methodists across the world. UMCOR, United Methodist Committee on Relief, an arm of the General Board of Global Ministries has been a great gift to our recovery. The Bishop’s Appeal for Church Recovery brought financial resources to our congregations. Through those efforts and the partnerships that were forged we have been able to restore, rebuild and reestablish our congregations and sustain our pastors. The United Methodist Church is a making a difference in the lives of millions of people!

The work of UMCOR and UMVIM(United Methodist Volunteers in Mission), the church is being renewed. Too much of our time is wasted focusing on all that is wrong with the United Methodist Church. There is much that is right. Our people respond when a tangible need is place before them. We in Mississippi are the benefactors of what the writer of the book of James teaches, namely that faith without works is dead. The faithful United Methodist Christians across this country and the world have given hope where there was no hope.

On Wednesday of this week, we will dedicate a home for Amy Hille, who for the last four years has been living in a makeshift home made of scrap wood, tin and tarp. Her house has built with love by the hands and feet and hearts of faithful United Methodist Christians. Teams have come thinking that in their coming they were helping. In one sense they have done just that. In a deeper sense, they have lost their lives for the sake of the Gospel. In losing themselves for the sake of the Gospel, they have been renewed. For many, they have been saved.

Go lose yourself, somewhere today, for Jesus’ sake.

And while you are at, build a few bridges. The world needs you.