On Saturday afternoon, a dozen dedicated Coram Deoites braved the hundred-degree heat to bring a little bit of light to the people enjoying the river in downtown Reno. Coolers were unloaded, and instructions were given. “Our first job is to convince people we’re not giving away frozen Kool-Aid,” Jose said.
As it turned out, the problem was not in giving the Otter Pops away, but in finding enough to give out to the crowds that started to gather. Once again, those of us who doubted the impact that so small a thing could have on people went away certain that we could not have spent those two hours better.
Team One Gives to Families
After gathering by the amphitheater in Wingfield Park for prayer, Jeremy and Jose first headed east to catch people on that side of the park while the rest of the group headed across the street to the larger crowd of Saturday river-goers. Any fears of a frosty reception on a hot day were immediately extinguished as parents would call over their children who were playing in the river to get a free treat. For every person who didn’t want an Otter Pop, five more were more than happy to accept our gift.
Team Two Blesses Different Groups of People
Across the street, another group set up camp in the shade of a tree along the path into the park, handing out Otter Pops to everyone who passed by with the help of a couple children who continue to learn from an early age what it means to serve others. It was easy to find the third group who had proceeded deeper into the park to pass out Otter Pops. One only needed to follow the trail of people enjoying a frozen snack. From children splashing in the water to elderly women enjoying the shade to some young men playing basketball across the street—everyone was thrilled to get an Otter Pop.
A Hint of the Kingdom
“For some of these people, just getting an Otter Pop is like heaven” Steve said. He meant it as a figure of speech, but it was truer than that. It’s precisely why Coram Deo goes out to serve the community at least twice a month—to bring a piece of God’s kingdom to the world around us.
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