I picked up flowers today for the Easter Sunday worship service. I of course didn't think ahead and as they were bringing out our carts of flowers I realized that I only had Jim's car ;) We managed to get them all in the car though.

As we were taking the flowers into the corps we were bombarded with homeless people. We didn't have our soup kitchen today because the entire Area Services was closed. We have had signs posted for a few weeks, but obviously not everyone got the message. I scrambled around the corps trying to find food for these folks. One of the guys asked me why we were closed. I of course explained that it was Good Friday and that our staff was all off for the weekend. As he took the bagged lunch I had made up for him I couldn't help but ask myself: WHY are WE closed today? I of course want to reflect on the sacrifice made for me today, however, it would probably be more fitting for me to share and sacrifice for my neighbor.

This winter an email conversation circulated around our division's area coordinators discussing when it was appropriate to close our facilities due to weather... How bad does the weather have to be for The Salvation Army to close?... that was the big question. I understand the need to care for our staff and keep them safe. At the same time, we are an organization and a ministry who is called to help those in need. Even in the worst weather, there are people who need a hot meal, a warm building to sit in, a hot shower, a hot drink, a safe place to relax.... I could go on forever here. In a lot of cases, The Salvation Army serves as a "home" to the homeless. They need these services even more in that really bad weather and on the holidays. So what do we do?

We do close for holidays. We rarely close for weather. I don't know the answer.... but will ponder and figure out how to be there for our homeless brothers and sisters even in the midst of holiday celebrations.