Real Women

"Entertainment Weekly" published a special double issue; out of the 128 pages of the magazine, 63 pages are devoted to the movie, "Sex in the City." The magazine provides an episode guide of every show from the six seasons on HBO, a special pull-out map of New York highlighting all the landmarks from the show, a montage of the men the girls dated, and of course - their clothes and accessories. I know I would never pass for a fashion plate; I'm too practical in my choice of clothes, plus adding the klutz factor and stilettos are out of the question. I remember when gas stations started making the switch from full-service to self-service. There was a motto, "Real women don't pump gas," which I guess was supposed to demoralize those women who chose to stand in the cold or the heat getting their hands dirty so they could take advantage of the better prices. The motto never held any real weight with me. When I think of real women that I do admire, they don't show up on the cover of "Entertainment Weekly," they can be seen in the mission field building homes; in the free clinic supplying medical help; in the nursery changing diapers so mothers can attend worship; on scaffolding high above the ground painting the education center; outside digging in the flower beds to add color to the grounds; in the kitchen washing the line of dishes from a pot luck dinner, and standing at the gas pump filling their car to visit the shut-ins.

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We are thankful for the women who set aside comfort for labor, set aside fashion for dungarees, and set aside personal time for the community. We value their gifts and their willingness to share their talents and time generously. Let us draw inspiration from their actions and repay their contributions by offering our own talents; creating new opportunities and new missions. Let us be a real, genuine people, getting our hands dirty, reaching out to other real people who have needs, disappointments, and a desire to know of your love. Remind us to value the hearts of those we meet, not to consider the style they wear. Amen.