The Hotdish Fiasco

The Hotdish Fiasco

Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

She left the church over a misunderstanding about hotdish. I’m sure that wasn’t the only reason, but when no one set up a meal train after her newest baby was born, she decided to find a new church home.

Hearing about it later, while chatting with a friend, I was sympathetic. No one in a loving church community should feel left out. The woman and her family had been active in the church for years, hosting groups and volunteering their time. Since meal trains are often set up for families at the church, it’s completely understandable that she would have felt hurt when her need was unintentionally overlooked. I would have felt hurt too.

But, if I’m honest, I was a bit flabbergasted as well. Why didn’t she say something, rather than choose to leave? Why didn’t she reach out and ask for help, rather than assume people should know she could use an extra hand? I can only imagine that she believed no one cared about her needs.

Misunderstandings can skewer community. Churches—like any other community or group of people—are made up of individuals who, through busyness or ignorance or perhaps even laziness, often fail. But as Paul writes in Romans, each person in the church is part of the body and must function together. We have a responsibility to each other to work together for the common good.

So how can we, as ambassadors of friendship, respond with generosity to such a messy situation? First, rather than dismissing the situation or gossiping about it with others, we can talk to the person to try to restore community or at least mitigate hurt feelings. Second, we can try to do better the next time. As members of the body of Christ, it’s up to us to look for opportunities to help others who may be struggling—even with something as simple as hotdish.

— Kristin

— Today’s Act of Friendship —

Extend friendship to someone by meeting a practical, tangible need they have. Keep your eyes open for someone others may have overlooked.