2,300 pumpkins. Give or take few that’s how many we unloaded on this past Sunday at the church. With two lines steadily picking up, passing on, and stacking around that divides out to a lot of people personally handling over 1,100 pumpkins. As this is being written on Monday morning, I’m sure there are a few stiff backs, some aching arms, and a couple of sore legs. But, the work, the sweat, the dirt, and the laughter and good - hearted ribbing that always accompanies such work is well worth our temporary discomfort.

     The church yard is transformed. We now have a yard that is full and ready for harvest. If we doubt the falling of fall, we only have to look at the orange pumpkins, the hazel hay bales, or the green gourds. The color of fall is spread on our yard. The produce of many hours of growth and labor is ready to be sold to benefit others. Just as the church yard is transformed, we will use the proceeds of our pumpkins and gourds in the transformation of lives effected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

     To people who aren’t connected with a faith community those words may sound strange. How can pumpkins build houses? How can gourds become vessels of hope? Aren’t they simply pumpkins and gourds? Well, on the one hand, yes. They are only pumpkins and gourds. But, when the people of God get together and put the needs of others ahead of their own needs transformation takes place. When the people of God commit themselves to ministry that is externally focused transformation takes place. When the people of God decide to help people who need help, love people who need love, give to people who need gifts, serve people who need mercy and compassion lives get changed. And hope gets born. And redemption and reconciliation become more complete. So, on the other hand, no. The pumpkins and gourds become far more than what they look like, than what their physical description is. Somehow, in someway, God works through the people of God to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.

      Some years ago in my ministry, I presided over the wedding of a wonderful young couple. Following the ceremony the groom’s dad approached me with an envelope. He said , “ This is from us to you. Thank you for your work, your words, and your counsel. ” When I got home, I opened the card and read the good words written there and was completely overwhelmed by the generosity of the gift inside. I called the dad and said, “ This is too much. Too generous. How can I ever accept this? ” He said, “ There is no money in that envelope. Only love. It just looks like money. It’s all love. ”

     So, take a look at our church yard -- all transformed. All full of fall color and fall produce – pumpkins and gourds and bales of hay, and a few shocks of corn. And tell me – tell each other – tell the community what you see?


     Grace and peace