Susan Fey, in "A 4th Course of Chicken Soup for the Soul," tells the story about a young girl who had need of a liver transplant. Under the watchful eye of her grandmother, little Michelle was showing danger signs that made
her transplant immediate. It was January 17, l994 and the city of Louisville, Kentucky was paralyzed by a winter blizzard. Most of the Midwest experienced similar feelings of hopelessness this past week when a late
winter snowstorm imprisoned them in their homes, cars and shelters as mounds of snow immobilized millions of people. Michelle was on a donor list and during the blizzard her grandmother received a phone call that a hospital in Omaha had located a perfect match. But, they needed to have Michelle come there within twelve hours. "We're
snowed in," the grandmother told the medical coordinator on the phone, "and the airport is seventeen miles away." She was told not to give up and in desperation she began making phone calls to everyone she knew that might
help. Sharon Stevens, a hairdresser, arranged for a Lear Jet to take Michelle from the Airport to Omaha. But, they were stilled challenged with getting to the airport in blizzard conditions. A local radio station began broadcasting messages requesting help and suggestions. One woman suggested that the local church parking lot be used as a helicopter pad. Area neighbors then responded to their plea to help clear the snow.
A four-wheel vehicle was sent by the radio station to transport Michelle to the church. When they arrived about l50 people were standing by leaning on their snow shovels. Fire trucks arrived to make makeshift landing lights for
the helicopter. And police went to the home of the jet pilot to escort him to the airport. An entire village rallied around this little girl and managed to see her safely off to Omaha. Her transplant was a success, all because her neighbors found something better to do than watch the blizzard through their windows.
When we work together things get done. So is it in the church today, when Gods people work together as the bible calls unity, we can see great things happen for God. But sadly many in America want to do there own thing. Notice in this story everyone had a part and every part was so important. It is true of the church today. We read in Rom 12:4,5 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Here God is referring to our own body's, My hands do not do as my feet and my ears do not do as my mouth. So in our body's we have many different parts or members but they are all important. 1Co 12:21, 22 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: The church has many different people with many different gifts, but all are important. It takes the efforts of everyone to have a blessed and growing church. God has a job for everyone. What the church needs today is for everyone to do that job faithfully. When one does not faithfully do the work that God has set before them, it slows the progress down. This would be like going out and push mowing the yard, but do not use your hands. Oh you might get it done, but it sure would take a long and tiring time. When everything and everyone works together it makes for a smoother and faster job.