Diane

One of the things I enjoy most is calling attention to people who don’t call attention to themselves.  They are loathe to suggest that they have any skills or dedication that should be brought to the light.  But for several years, I have been toying with the idea of writing about these people.  The ones who inspire me, intrigue me and humble me.  In a culture of self-promotion they are the people who keep the clocks running, keep the meals coming and keep us on mission but that no one ever really knows about.  There is no false humility, there is a genuine understanding of the task at hand.  There is a clear denial of self that requires no one to notice what is being done in the name of service. So begins this series.“Christ has no body now but yours.  No hands, no feet on earth but yours.  Yours are the eyes through which he looks, compassion on this world, Christ has no body now on earth, but yours.”  St. Theresa’s Prayer by John Michael Talbot
Diane is the housekeeper at our parish.  Aside from serving in the capacity of housekeeper, (which means cooking, cleaning and caring for the pastors and anyone else living there) Diane has volunteered to coordinate the Hope House meal every third Sunday for the past 21 years.  She has actually volunteered with the organization longer.  That means, getting volunteers, making a menu, shopping, cooking, serving and cleaning.  It is a long process.  She has done this, almost sight unseen for 21 years every 3rd Sunday of every month which equals 6,237 times.  But she doesn’t just throw soup together.  She puts so much into it that the feeling is that she is serving family.  She doesn’t seem to have the mindset of doing anyone a favor as much as showing love to those who may feel unloved.  This past Sunday, my group of kids were doing a service project in the parish center.  I kept smelling something delicious.  I couldn’t figure out where it was coming from until finally one of the people with me found chicken baking in the oven.  A couple minutes later, Diane came in with a volunteer and checked on it. It smelled gourmet.  We were told that Diane has recently decided that she needed to step away from this ministry.  It has become too much for her, which I think after 21 years is fair.  🙂   But now the challenge is to find someone who is as in tune with the idea of service as she is.  To find someone who understands that this meal may be the only way for a person to feel loved and valued.  Someone who understands that  Christ is always present in the breaking of bread.  Someone who understands the sanctity and sacredness of the meal.  It will also be a challenge to find someone with Diane’s quiet wisdom.  With her good heart.  This is someone who leads with a smile.  Who listens to stories while handing out sandwiches.  Who knows who is safe and who is not, who is missing and who is not.  Every street person on her watch is noticed.  She is the exact opposite of so many of us who look away because it makes us uncomfortable.  She is a missionary in our parish.  But it is time for her to step away.There is so much more to say about her but this will suffice for this page.Please pray that the Holy Spirit will work as it always has for us.  That someone with the same heart will show up to take on this mission and to execute it with such ability.  And pray for Diane for the goodness that she lets into our lives.  For her ability to accept others for themselves.  And for her to enjoy some rest.