Seizing an opportunity to become the living hands of God

"Some men see things as they are, and say, 'Why?' I dream things that never were, and say, 'Why not?'"

The epigram above may be one of the best-known quotes attributed to Robert F. Kennedy. No one knows the job the assassinated RFK might have done as president. I tend to trust a growing consensus of historians who suggest the late New York senator had little chance to become the Democratic Party nominee in 1968, let alone become president. By the time RFK announced his candidacy, Hubert Humphrey, the eventual nominee, already had a substantial bloc of committed convention delegates. No matter. RFK's words are worth revisiting, regardless, because they speak to us through the years about seizing the opportunities placed directly in front of us.

Deb Martin is a person who saw a chance to become the living hands and feet of Christ in Cape Girardeau and did not tarry. Martin is a real estate broker at Realty Executives and a member of St. Andrew Lutheran Church. The idea came through an unexpected source. Martin was working with a retired couple relocating to Cape, helping in a house search, when the wife revealed that she and her husband took part in a food ministry in Bonne Terre, Missouri. Intrigued, Martin asked more questions, thought of the need she saw in Cape, and then asked herself Kennedy's question: "Why not?"

Teaming with a St. Andrew staffer, Toni Moll, and a fellow church member, Sue Allee, the Seconds ministry was launched at St. Andrew one year ago this month. St. Andrew's social ministry board provided some seed money, some fundraising was done via the concession stand at the Show-Me Center, and off Seconds went. Martin and her St. Andrew team did their due diligence, talking to the church staff, soliciting (and receiving) help from St. Andrew members through a blast email, consulting other congregations, and asking advice of the Salvation Army. Thrivent Financial also has been helpful.

Seconds is a name chosen quite deliberately. Every second Friday night of the month, anyone is welcome at St. Andrew for a sit-down meal. All are invited to take a second hot meal home with them. The theology behind the ministry is that all of us are children of a God of -- you guessed it -- second chances.

Thirty-five people were served at that first meal a year ago. Lately, Seconds is averaging 90 to 100 in turnout. Some folks who come are known to be homeless. Some are young; some are elderly. There is no cafeteria feel to Seconds. People are served at tables, which are nicely decorated. The 25 to 30 people on the Seconds ministry team take time to talk with those who may be having difficulty making ends meet or simply putting a hot meal on their own tables.

Effectiveness is not always measured in pure numbers. Sometimes you know you're doing Jesus' work by the things you hear. A distressed husband and wife in their 50s came in for a Seconds meal last year and revealed that a grandson had just been diagnosed with autism. Those two people needed the food, Martin reveals, "but they needed to talk to someone, anyone, who would listen and understand the emotional turmoil and trauma."

Cards are placed on tables for prayer requests.

Seconds ministry sends notices to the food banks, to the senior centers and in backpacks that go home on the weekend with at-risk children in the Cape public schools.

"I think," says Martin, "there's a lot more people out there who have need."

Often we hear of a problem in our communities and think that somebody ought to do something. The government, perhaps. Every once in awhile, some are moved to action like Deb, Toni and Sue. People who say to themselves, "If not me, who? If not now, when?" Or to put it more succinctly: "Why not?"

Rev. Jeff Long, D.Min., is executive director of the Chateau Girardeau Foundation, teaches at SEMO, and serves as a part-time pastor in Puxico, Missouri.