Blessings Can be Exhausting

Blessings can be exhausting! 

Last week we were contacted by the Starbucks corporate office in Seattle. They wanted to do a video to feature the PARC. One of our longtime volunteers, Hayden works at Starbucks and had applied for us to receive a Neighborhood Community Grant. It was a fairly small grant, which I didn't think much of when we received it, but I was very grateful to Hayden for recommending us. So when I received the call, I was a little surprised. 

When Hayden began volunteering at the PARC he was only14. He had met a girl  named Tracy while he was passing out lunches at Elwood Park. He invited her to the PARC. Tracy was a delightful mess. We worried about her because she slept in dumpsters, ate out of dumpsters and was often abused on the streets. She refused to sleep in a shelter. Through coming to the PARC Tracy eventually was able to move into an apartment. With the aid and help of Shari, one of our volunteers and a board member, Tracy continued to thrive. Shari and her church surrounded Tracy and supported her in this journey. That was 8 years ago. Tracy is still in her apartment and has graduated from Amarillo College and West Texas A&M with honors. She has also reconciled with her family and kids.

Hayden invited her to come for the video. He said, "You are a big part of this story." Tracy was terribly nervous, but she came for him. As I watched the 2 of them be reunited and then heard them tell their stories, I was overwhelmed. It was such a display of the power of relationship and community that changed these lives. Not just Tracy and Hayden, but all the ladies of the church who have walked with Tracy and loved her through very hard times. The impact is too big to even comprehend. During the day we also found out that there were over 8,000 applications for these grants. The PARC was the only one in Amarillo to receive one, and we were also the first video that Starbucks has done of this kind!!. For years we have prayed for the PARC to just get on the map. It felt like for so long that no one knew about the PARC or could understand what we do. Well, this felt like we had finally made it on the map.

The video wrapped up and I was exhausted! What was supposed to take 1 - 2 hours took 5 hours and it was cold!  After they left I collapsed onto a chair. As soon as I sat down my alarm went off. I had forgotten about my next meeting. I walked  out onto the parking lot to see a circle of contractors gathered to meet to discuss the construction of our new building. I was asked questions that I didn't know the answer to. Things were explained to me that I did not really understand. It was a long, tiring and stressful day.

Then I stopped for a minute to think about it. People flew from Seattle to make a video of the PARC. We are really about to build our new building because we really did raise the money!! Tracy's story was a powerful reminder of the impact that the PARC is making and a beautiful picture of what happens when our community surrounds those who come to the PARC with love. This day was a pretty big deal!!

Yes, blessings are oftentimes exhausting and stressful. I must always remember to be grateful. In the stress and busyness, it is important to stop and see. I must really see what God is doing and be grateful. He is answering prayers and fulfilling dreams that I never thought possible. He is doing far and above what I ever imagined. May I never be so stressed or overwhelmed, too exhausted to receive the blessings that God wants to send my way.