“Simple
Minded Kingdom Folk” “I can’t stand simple-minded folk!” Bertha blurted out as a bat out of hades bolted by our car on the right side, swerving sideways and slamming on their brakes in front of us. “Another routine ride home from worship,” I thought, as I attempted to steer clear of any escalating road rage. Yet, as I reflected on my pastoring in Lawndale for over 30 years, I believe that God loves and recruits simple-minded folk for his kingdom. People, who joyfully receive bread from the table (even when it’s often only crumbs), multiply that bread, and then with equal delight give it away. This is a simple rhythm of receiving and giving. The place to observe this rhythm is often among the little, the lost, and the least. They have no choice but to receive yet, the miracle of kingdom multiplication is most noticed when they then give in response. This is the story of people like Bertha. While coming to the church to receive, she has also done the kingdom math of giving. While she could easily have been distracted by the overwhelming dysfunctional rhythms of the human condition on Chicago’s west side, Bertha has stayed focused on a single-mindedness that spreads kingdom joy. Two or more mornings every week she rises at 5 a.m. in order to catch two busses and one train to arrive and volunteer at the New to You Thrift Store in Broadview by 8:45am. Collette, the store manager, who knows Bertha works hard, often tells her, “You’re going to have to be my legs today!” As her pastor, I could go on to describe the chicken dinners she cooked for the church, the years she cared for one of our shut-ins, the clean up she does after special events in our buildings, and the fundraising she’s done for other organizations apart from the church. These are all examples of simple single-minded kingdom folk spreading joy. Why do I highlight someone like Bertha? Because she has integrated the kingdom rhythm of receiving and giving into her way of living. One of the little, the lost, and the least…who like many others took a few crumbs from the Master’s table did the math and multiplied kingdom joy. As you and I sit down to the table this Thanksgiving, we practice the simple rhythm of receiving and giving. And we give thanks for lives like Bertha who are role models of Simple Minded Kingdom Folk.
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