Are 2 Better than 1?

I tend to be someone that would rather be about doing instead of talking about doing. I have been blessed over the last 5 years to make some great friendships that have turned into ‘gold mines’. It has been through these new partnerships that I have learned that much more can be accomplished through synergism, fancy word than being a lone ranger. I joined a new board yesterday that is a byproduct of a new friendship that has become that gold mind.

I don’t mind being a lone ranger when it comes to working and accomplishing great things in my neighborhood. Yet, I know that more will happen and transformation will be quicker when I share the load and actually get more hands involved. The challenge is this takes time and the need to build trust with new faces. I’m not too quick to invite someone to take ownership of a project, which really means interfacing with a kid, teen, adult or grandma without knowing that they truly care and are committed.

I know that in today’s world most meetings are about bottom line and what is in it for me. It is so important to understand that Kingdom Work is about giving away not getting, even though I am so blessed by what I do each day that I understand the importance of living a day at a time. I’m around people who are on the edge. I get a text from a mom whose water had just been turned off. I go online to see if I can help with her bill, which is $350 and unfortunately the account is frozen. I get a text from another single mom about her washing machine dying.

I am blessed to have many connections where I can send out an e-mail and in a day discover someone that needs to get rid of a used washer and dryer. I know that before my meeting yesterday we discovered a nice leather couch that was being tossed. It was on the sidewalk awaiting the fate of the bulk pickup mega-truck. We rescued the couch for more use from a family without any furniture.

I know that Solomon was someone who wrote much about wisdom or the impact of not living wisely. He carefully shares that a strand of 3 pieces of rope will hold up much more than a rope with just one strand. Much like one person can freeze to death at night but two lying together can survive the cold. My lesson I’m continuing to learn is that partnerships and collaboration must be at the heart of community work if there is to be real transformation.

My hope or dream is to continue to make new friends and share God’s heart for the broken and displaced. It is through these new relationships that I see a community starting to change.  Thank God for new friends and partnerships!