Ask for Help

When Jesus ties loving God and loving our neighbor together, He teaches us that our love for God is expressed in the way that we love other people. It's very simple, really, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it easy. Proverbs 3 states:
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it," When you have it with you.
29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor, For he dwells by you for safety's sake.

It is true, when we are in need or hurting, we should ask for help - going before the Lord to present our requests and perhaps even going to the Church for assistance. And, fellow believers should always be ready to give it.  That's the way the body of Christ works, and it's a God-appointed position that we have in the world: to demonstrate the love of Jesus so that people will be drawn to Him.  Our willingness to assist can open the door for the gospel to be shared; it really can result in a physical expression of the gospel.

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As members of the body of Christ, we should be motivated to love and serve one another and to stand ready to help when called upon. Romans 12 says this:
10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

The gargantuan task of vaccinating millions of Americans against the coronavirus is well underway, and there have been instances of long lines of people waiting to get their vaccines - a news report I saw over the weekend featured a line of people waiting for hours just to register for a time slot.

Well, this shows that Americans, and indeed people around the world, are ready to be done with COVID-19, but we also have to be reasonable that we have at least a few more months before we get back to "normal," whatever that is. 

Churches have been instrumental in the battle against COVID - some have been testing locations, others have distributed food and supplies for those who have encountered economic hardship as the result of the pandemic.  Still others have allowed vaccines to be administered at their campuses.

Such was the case recently at Seacoast Church in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina.  ChristianHeadlines.com reports that...

The vaccination site was so popular with local residents that Mount Pleasant Mayor Will Haynie phoned Chick-fil-A manager Jerry Walkowiak for assistance. Chick-fil-A is well-known for its ability to quickly handle a tsunami of cars. A 2019 survey placed Chick-fil-A No. 1 in drive-thru order accuracy and customer service.

The mayor tweeted out, “When you need help, call the pros."

The manager arrived at the site even before the mayor. The article goes on to say:

The wait time, Haynie said, decreased from one hour to 15 minutes with Walkowiak working at the site. Walkowiak stood under an umbrella in the rain, directing cars to the correct site and ensuring drivers had the proper paperwork, Fox 11 reported.

Over 1,000 vaccines were administered that day, according to Christian Headlines. 

The Fox 11 report said:

Haynie said Walkowiak, while standing out in the cold rain, used the Chick-fil-A method to speed up the drive-thru, including walking up to drivers in advance to make sure they had their paperwork and immediately directing them to a spot to receive their vaccine.

This weekend, dose #2 will be administered.

I want to note that a local church was the place where people were going to get their COVID vaccines, meaning that the church allowed this setup to occur. This is yet another example of the ministry of the local church during the COVID crisis.  The Church has proven time and again over the past year that it stands ready to bring hope and healing amidst the brokenness and fear.  Yet, there are those who want to limit the freedom of religion in their states and communities, fearing that perhaps church leaders will not do what it takes to keep their congregants safe while allowing certain local businesses to remain open. It's been said that the Church is essential, and I think that has been underscored during the pandemic.

Also, this story reminds us to not hesitate to ask for help.  The folks in Mount Pleasant, like we have seen elsewhere, were lining up to get their vaccines, but the wait time was longer than what the mayor desired - so he called up a local business owner who is known for speedy service at the drive-thru. And, he proved the mayor's call was correct.  So often, in our rugged individualism and independent spirit, we want to do things by ourselves - but, it is certainly not always a sign of weakness to ask for assistance. And, for the believer, we don't show that we are weak when we call upon the Lord; as Paul wrote, when we are weak, He is strong.