The Traveling Chair

Another chair story for you…don’t think Steve and I expected to have a theme. But the Spirit moves, so….

Yesterday, I lugged a chair from my sunroom into the car, drove to work, and then put the chair into the waiting car of an acquaintance. But I wasn’t selling the chair. No, this is a very special chair–and it wasn’t mine to begin with.

Here’s how I ended up with the chair. For a moment. One of my friends was diagnosed several years ago with breast cancer, so she bought herself the chair. It’s one of those very fancy, very comfy low-gravity deals, so if you’re undergoing chemo or recovering from major surgery (especially in the all-important core area), it allows you to rest (even sleep in it comfortably) and as importantly, get out of it easily, without straining muscles. When my friend finished her own treatment, she decided the chair needed to go and visit others who might have need of it, but who might not have the means to purchase such an expensive piece of furniture. And that’s how I come in–I was one in the chain of people who got to have the chair as I recovered from a hysterectomy this past summer. And then, my friend alerted me that another woman was going to have need of the chair, so off it went through the snowy parking lot on its next adventure. And I sent it along with my fond good wishes for its healing powers in another home.

I tell you all of this because moving the chair made the think about a few things related to our special series of blogs this week:

1) we know this, but it bears repeating: community is so critical to thriving. Whether it was a meal delivered, a special coffee drink purchased, a ride given, an errand run–or a chair loaned–each act this summer assisted so much in my recovery.

2) but each thing was unique to the person giving it and gave insight into their thoughtfulness. Few would think about the loan of expensive furniture, but gosh, was it a help. But even with the more “expected” things, not a one was the same. I never ate the same meal twice.

In like manner, I’ve been delighted to receive the gifts my colleagues here on The Twelve bring every day. We have so many differences: different perspectives, different life experiences, different styles, different interests and concerns. But we wouldn’t be a community without each one–and we certainly never bring the same meal twice. You may prefer some of our meals to others, but you’ve got to admit, we’re pretty creative chefs!

My friend’s investment in that chair was a big one. But that investment is one that paid off for her–and so many of her friends.
None of the writers on The Twelve get paid–we feel like it is an investment, too. But there are costs to maintaining our online infrastructure, so I’d invite you to think about joining us in supporting a place where we’re hoping to invest in bringing faith to the every table of discussion–and every chair, too.

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