The Gospel of Mark is my favorite book in the Bible. When I was in college, I was part of a group that studied Mark every year in the Spring. We would look for connections, context cues, repeated words and phrases, and more to help us understand the meaning in the text. This method helped me to understand Jesus in some powerful ways that hopefully inform how I lead.
In Mark 5 there are three very descriptive stories of Jesus who is approached by people experiencing significant affliction—a man who is in agony day and night, a father whose daughter is at death’s door and a woman who had been sick for 12 years. All three are desperate as they approach Jesus, and they all experience healing within themselves or the ones they love. Jesus is fully present with all of them. He listens to them and restores them. As I read these stories today, I am in awe of how Jesus responded to what I interpret as interruptions. It could be that Jesus also thought they were interruptions, but the way he stayed present to people leads me to believe that he thought they were opportunities.
What if we saw the interruptions of daily life as opportunities to listen or extend grace or care?
One of the gifts of Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent is that it grounds us in the present. It reminds us of our limitations and invites us to pay close attention to how Jesus approached his death with great intention and determination.
As we move through March and approach the holy days of Good Friday and Easter, it is my hope and prayer that we will live our lives with great intention and attention to the opportunities to experience or extend grace to our neighbors. It can be as simple as sending a text message or an email to someone you know is struggling. It could be committing to pray and to support one of the many great causes in our community. Wherever you feel led, don’t wait, take action.
For the Shalom of the City,
Kyle Dickinson
Executive Director
RainFest 2026 |
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On Friday, February 27th, 40 golfers gathered at historic Salem Golf Club for the 15th annual SLF RainFest Golf Event. This year we had a beautiful sunny day, but we also had hecklers. One of these things was planned. |
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Every year we gather at RainFest because we love our community and want to see it flourish. The golfers and a few non-golfing participants all reach out to their networks to ask for support, and then we dress up in weird costumes to play golf. It is usually cold and wet. This year it wasn’t, but it’s not about the weather. It’s about how much we love Salem/Keizer as we pursue Shalom together. |
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Together we raised nearly $120,000 in support of SLF’s work of connecting, resourcing and mobilizing neighbors, churches and nonprofits. Thank you for your support!
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