“The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.” -2 Corinthians 9: 6-8
I recently experienced some deep nostalgia because of a high school music student I teach. He has been working on his Eagle Scout achievement through Boy Scouts of America, and wanted his service project to focus around music. Seeing a need to reach out to the elderly in our Oklahoma City community, he decided to play some small concerts and visit with the residents of local assisted-living homes. My heart was warmed when he came up with this idea, because I took on a similar project as part of a community service requirement for my college credit hours.
While attending Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL I remember visiting with a resident named Bob at a local nursing home. Bob loved our football rivals, the Florida Gators just south in Gainesville. Everything Bob wore was Florida Gators. He even had a pennant coming up the back of his wheelchair with the UF Gator logo. I asked him what he was doing living in Tallahassee and wearing so much “Gator stuff?” He said, “mission work!”
Bob and I always had a great time visiting. I would take my guitar and sing a few popular songs that I knew, but Bob just wanted me to take him to bingo or watch episodes of M.A.S.H. with him.
The young boy I teach reminds me of myself, and it makes me so proud that he has a desire to visit those who are lonely and in need. He is truly living out our mission of “Sharing God’s love and bringing hope to the world.”
Logan Fish, Director of Hospitality, Edmond Campus
