Provocative thinking, maybe…

The ARC and Cold Water August 5, 2011

Today was the last day for our 2011 ARC Summer Camp, the summer day program for kids with autism and developmental/intellectual disabilities operated jointly by the ARC of McLennan County and our own Austin Avenue church. After lunch, Tom Pearson, Executive Director for the ARC, gathered his staff in Fellowship Hall for a time of debriefing, evaluations, and to say thank you to one another. I sat in for just a few minutes, hoping to learn how we did as a church and what we could do better.

The ARC staff gushed praise for Dave, our Building Superintendent and for his assistant, Bobby. I was incredibly proud of their work and the difference these two men had made (perhaps unknowingly, at times) in the lives of these kids and their families. Each person on the AAUMC staff made significant contributions to this year’s camp, and the ARC staff was gracious with their thankfulness.

But because I’m a preacher, I couldn’t leave the meeting without telling the ARC staff a quick story. This past Tuesday, the church hosted the ARC Art Show, an amazing collection of paintings, sculptures, and other projects created by the kids from our summer camp. I walked through Fellowship Hall just as the last few people were leaving, and a parent who was on her way out the door turned around and came back to speak to me.

“You’re the pastor here, aren’t you?

“Yes,” I said. “I’m the senior pastor.”

“I just wanted to say thank you for making this available to my child this summer. You have no idea what a difference it made.”

“You’re very welcome,” I replied. “It was our blessing. We’re looking forward to having you back next summer.”

The mom fell silent for just a moment, and then came her reply.

“Really?”

Even though the camp has now completed its third summer at Austin Avenue, it’s still hard for some parents to imagine that we would want their kids back. They’re used to being told otherwise. They’re used to hearing how difficult their children are to manage, how they’re not appropriate for this environment or that environment, and how most people and places are simply not able to work with this challenging population.

As Tom likes to remind his staff, that’s why the ARC Camp exists; to work with kids nobody else can or will. It is definitely a challenge. The fact is that it takes dedicated, talented, special people to work with these kids. And so we do not criticize those who can’t or won’t but instead bless those who can and will.

After telling my story, I came back upstairs to face a big stack of papers on my desk and a lengthy list of uncompleted tasks on my computerized calendar. The high summer utility bills have to be paid. The upcoming changes in fall programming have to be finalized. New leaders must be recruited. Malfunctioning equipment must be replaced. Committee meeting strategies must be ironed out. And then there’s the odd sermon that needs to be finished. There is so, so very much yet to accomplish.

Yet it the midst of all that the church has yet to accomplish, today reminded me that the church accomplished something profound this summer. The church blessed children. The church supported families. The church reached out to kids who have often been marginalized and helped bring them back into the center. The church cared for the least of these. The church offered a cold cup of water.

In the Gospel according to St. Matthew, Jesus says: “I assure you that everybody who gives even a cup of cold water to these little ones because they are my disciples will certainly be rewarded.” (Matt. 10.42, CEB) The church offered a cold cup of water to a group of kids who thirst for dignity, for acceptance, for understanding, and for love.

Soon I’ll go back to working on all that is yet to be accomplished. But for the next few moments, I’ll pause to give thanks and praise for all those who offered cold water at the Austin Avenue church this summer. Your work did not go unnoticed. Cold water always makes a splash, especially when it’s 107 degrees.

Blessings!