A Warm Welcome

After walking from downtown Tacoma on Day 6, we’ll end up at Christ Lutheran Church in Lakewood, where I was invited to speak to the congregation about our Kindness Walk today. Wow, what a wonderful community! When I arrived I was greeted with a hug by Kristin (my designated contact person and all-around-turbocharged wonder-woman with a huge heart) who showed me where to drop off my bags of cookies, introduced me to her husband Dale and other members of the congregation, and showed me where we were going to sit during the service.

It turned out to be a special service largely run by the children. The theme was about the Rainforest and the altar area had been turned into a tropical paradise. I had picked a good day to be here!

When my turn came to speak during the announcements time, I handed out be Kind • do Good stickers to all the kids, then opened up a bag of cookies and had one of the older kids do a taste test review for the whole congregation. (As you’ve heard me say before, never underestimate the power of a cookie.)

Christ Lutheran’s wonderful Vicar, Lyndi (with the help of several children) offered a sermon about “God Sightings,” which I realized was what Bob and I are hoping our Walk will allow for, recognizing that everyone has their own idea of what a God Sighting might be. I am fond of a letter that Quaker founder George Fox wrote, encouraging others to “walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in every one.”

During the social hour after the service, I floated around and made sure everyone had cookies, noticing that some of the kids had already pasted their be Kind • do Good stickers on their water bottles.

Kristin and Dale (photo below) then forced me to go home with them and have lunch, even requiring me to have seconds of the yummy vegetarian main dish Kristin had made. We sat outside the house they had lived in for 50 years and it took about one minute for me to feel like family. Doesn’t get any better than that.