What do you need?
In week 3 of our summer series, “I’ve been meaning to ask…,” we consider the question, “what do you need?” As prayers were shared last Sunday under the tent, it was clear that for many, at least part of the answer is “housing.” Whether assisted living, senior residences, emergency shelter, or an affordable home or rental, we are in short supply in our towns and across the country.
I am more grateful than ever for the work of Harvest Crossing and Habitat for Humanity, championing the need for safe, affordable, sustainable homes. Still, we know this is a small piece of the larger puzzle that needs urgent attention. At the same time, solutions will necessarily take a while; homes aren’t built overnight.
I remember visiting a congregation years ago, and when it came to joys and concerns, someone stood up and raised a prayer request for a different systemic challenge. I no longer remember the specifics, but I recall they concluded by saying, “I don’t really know what to do about this, so I’m asking us to pray that next steps would be made clear, that we can take action.”
What wisdom lies therein. We know how to spring into action: making meals, providing material items, calling for a vigil or discussion group. But sometimes, even amidst urgency, there’s still a need for pause. Slowing our roll reminds us to ask others, “what do you need?” instead of relying solely on our perspectives. It makes room for more creative and collaborative responses, allowing us to find pathways we otherwise may have missed.
In the case of the housing crisis, the pause is not so much of our choosing. Still, as we wait for DRB permits and state legislation and funding solutions, we can wait actively. We can pray. We can talk to friends and neighbors about what’s happening and what a better way might look like (also a prayer). We can ask our legislators and business leaders what they need to make more affordable homes a reality. We can even consider whether our own homes and properties might be part of the answer.
Who knows where God will lead us next? But let’s at least start by asking.
Pastor Jen