Midway Hills Christian Church has been in a discernment process for some time now about the future direction of the church. One of the questions woven into that discernment is "What does it mean to be a peace and justice congregation in the year 2004?" I welcome the opportunity to explore that question with the church in the months ahead. It is a question, I believe, that has no quick answers but I would offer this insight from a trip to the post office last week.

As I was on my way to my first official day of employment at Midway Hills Christian Church I stopped at the post office to drop off some mail at the drive-through. I was anxious about ‘getting to the church on time’ so I became a bit irritated when the person in the car in front of me lingered longer than usual to drop mail. I then noticed that an elderly Asian man had walked up to the drive-through and was having difficulty figuring out where to put his mail.

My irritation turned to wonder and thanksgiving (and a bit of humility) as I watched the woman in the car in front of me take the time to get out of her car and show the man where to put his mail. There was a great smile on his face for the assistance—and one on hers too—and mine as well.

In those moments I was reminded that justice begins in our everyday acts of kindness. We fund our larger work of justice in the world by having the eyes to see where our kindness can make a difference and taking the time to make it so. I believe the prophet Micah had a pretty good formula for it. "God has told you O mortal what is good and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with God."