I am enjoying my home church in Austin, Riverbend. As I pull into the parking lot each Sunday, I see drivers waiting in over-sized golf carts to take people from their cars to the front entrance. As churchgoers stream up the sidewalks, I notice the familiar greeters stationed at the door, ready to give us a warm handshake. As soon as I step inside, I see Helen, a woman in a wheelchair, who always hands me the worship bulletin.

     To make eye contact with Helen you have to kneel so that she can see you. Her head is often tilted to one side with her eyes looking toward the floor. Yet Helen is not hindered by her disability. She has been a faithful volunteer since I’ve been in Austin. My guess is that she’s been serving in this capacity for much longer. Touched by her servant’s heart, I always remember to thank her.

Helen, a faithful servant

     Worship bulletin in hand, I ascend the ramp leading to the main walkway of our sanctuary. Because our sanctuary is designed like an amphitheater, it is shaped in a semi-circle. The walkway separates the lower section of pews for people who prefer to sit closer to the stage and the upper section of pews for those who enjoy a birds-eye view of the platform. The stage is the lowest part of our sanctuary backed by a wide window that reveals tree tops and a peaceful sky. It is a breath-taking view that enhances the worship experience.

     I take my seat, and watch the young families with children find their favorite seats and the guests trying to decide if they should sit closer to the stage, or stay at a distance in the balcony. As I watch everyone pile in, I’m struck by the men and women who come to the sanctuary assisted by walkers, canes, or wheelchairs. Most of us don’t think twice about getting out of bed, getting dressed, and getting out the door, but those who have disabilities make a special effort to be here. It probably takes them twice as long to get around and put themselves together to be able to attend worship.

     It’s easy to be inspired by their obvious effort to join other believers, but what inspires me is deeper than their physical effort to worship. I find myself asking, What really drives them to be here? Surely they’re not coming out of legalism that says, “all believers ‘should’ attend worship every Sunday.” I found my answer reading an Old Testament passage in Genesis 47.

     Jacob and his children were rejoined with Jacob’s son, Joseph, in Egypt due to a famine. Jacob was 130 years old when he made this move. Seventeen years later, Jacob senses that his death is imminent, so he decides to do last minute estate planning. He calls in Joseph and asks him to swear that he will be buried with his other family members in Canaan, not in Egypt where he’s now living. Verse 31 says, “Then Joseph swore to him, and Jacob worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.” Jacob is 147 years old! Jacob desired to worship God, even though he was frail and had to lean on his staff.

     I think Jacob was driven to worship God at 147 years old because he had a deep, abiding love relationship with God. God never failed him. God was always faithful in fulfilling His covenant promises. God delivered him in times of hardship, whether it was working for his Uncle Laban who kept changing the terms of his work relationship, or whether it was the fear that his brother Esau would kill him, or whether a whole community would kill him and his family because of two sons who mass murdered all the men of Shechem. Jacob wrestled with God. Jacob had to know that God was worthy of all glory and honor.

     Helen reminds me of Jacob. I bet she’s experienced a God who has always been faithful to her. Because of her devotion to God, she has never let her disability stop her from serving God by handing out worship bulletins, or worshipping God with us. Our day will come when our bodies will become less cooperative. Some day we will have a “staff” to assist us. Will we be driven to do whatever it takes to worship with other believers when we’re disabled and tempted to stay home? Will our effort to worship by leaning on our staff be a reflection of our lifelong devotion to cultivate a growing love relationship with God?

     If you’re not sure, what are the obstacles in your way to connect with God and worship Him? Is there anything I can do to help you or encourage you?

Blessings,
Lee Ann