‘Tis the Season

The  Little Free Library  organization began in 2009. The idea is that someone will create a small house-shaped box, that’s water-proof and has a door. Then it goes up on a pole and sits at the curb. The owner will probably be the first person to put some books in the library. Then, anyone who’d like to read a book can take it from the little house, and take it home to read. When they finish, they can return the book to the house, or not. But they might return the book and also add one or more books that they have enjoyed. Little children might take two or three books. When Peter was younger, we would go to a playground at a community center near his house. There was a little library there. Sometimes, we’d get books just to read while we were at the playground. Other times, we’d choose a book to take to his house to read. There’s also a little library house at Peter’s school, and we have taken books from there for Peter to read as we drive to Waco.

I’ve noticed one in a friend’s neighborhood, too. The first time I saw it, it was empty, and I wondered if there were enough people walking by in this area who were taking and bringing books.  I didn’t always make a point to look in, as I drove by, but it seemed to usually be empty. One day, I drove by the little house-on-a-pole, and saw that, while there were not books inside, there were two cans. Cans of baked beans, I think.

Maybe it’s a food bank, I thought.  I looked it up later, and, yes, indeed, the Little Free Library people also support the Little Free Pantry ministry. This project started in May of 2016. I don’t know the details, but it seems that people noticed that families around them might have days where they didn’t get enough to eat, and there could be a solution.

This neighborhood that I drive through isn’t a run down, seedy part of town. Most houses are well-kept and no one I’ve seen appears to be “poor” and “starving.” However, lots of families, everywhere, sometimes struggle to make ends meet. Sometimes families have to choose whether to buy groceries or whether to purchase gas to get to work.

Peter was here last week, and we drove by the little purple house, which was empty. I pointed it out to him and he said, yes, he’d seen little libraries. “This is a little food pantry,” I said. “Sometimes there’s food in here. Sometimes it’s empty. I was thinking …” And he thought so, too. We went to the grocery store and bought food.

This is how the little purple house looked, a few days after we added our groceries to those that were already inside. I’m sorry I neglected to take a picture when it was all full.

Peter chose some things that were kid-friendly, like those containers with macaroni shapes and powdered cheese sauce, that you just add hot water to, and then microwave and stir. We turned down the rice aisle and Peter said, “Yes! White rice and Jasmine rice!” And we got crackers.

Later, we had a young teen-aged friend with us when we drove through the neighborhood. “We’ve gotten some food for the little pantry house. Do you want to help us?” She did.

When we drove up to the house, I said, “Look! Other people have brought food, too.” There were dried beans and some canned goods already inside. We got out of the car with our groceries. To my surprise, everything fit inside the house. Whew! (It holds more that you think it might. Or, at least more that I thought it might.)

Just a few days later, when I drove by, the house was empty. Of course, I don’t know if one person took it all, or if three or four folks stopped by the little food bank for something for themselves or their family.

I’m trying to remember to add, to my own grocery list, foods to take to the little purple house. ‘Tis the season.

“When the Son of Man appears in his majestic glory, with all his angels by his side, he will take his seat on his throne of splendor, and all the nations will be gathered together before him.And like a shepherd who separates the sheep from the goats, he will separate all the people.  The ‘sheep’ he will put on his right side and the ‘goats’ on his left. Then the King will turn to those on his right and say, ‘You have a special place in my Father’s heart. Come and experience the full inheritance of the kingdom realm that has been destined for you from before the foundation of the world!  For when you saw me hungry, you fed me. When you found me thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I had no place to stay, you invited me in,  and when I was poorly clothed, you covered me. When I was sick, you tenderly cared for me, and when I was in prison you visited me.’

“Then the godly will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty and give you food and something to drink? When did we see you with no place to stay and invite you in? When did we see you poorly clothed and cover you? When did we see you sick and tenderly care for you, or in prison and visit you?’

 “And the King will answer them, ‘Don’t you know? When you cared for one of the least important of these my little ones, my true brothers and sisters, you demonstrated love for me.’

Matthew 31-40 (The Passion Translation)

The Cambridge dictionary defines “endgame” as:  the last stage  of a process, especially one involving discussion. This is Jesus’ endgame. The next verses in Matthew describe what is going to happen over the next few days. It’s hard to believe that there will be a happy ending.

We know better. There is a happy ending. But we need to make sure we’re keeping that happy ending going, as much as we can, for the people around us, who might not know where to find that better endgame.

‘Tis the season … to be the people Jesus meant us to be.