The Little Things

The Fellowship Hall is a very old building. It used to face Franklin Avenue. Then, after Hurricane Betsy in 1965, it was turned and raised on a cinder block base.

Those who Elan Ministries has had the pleasure to host over the years no doubt remember staying in one of the rooms upstairs in this old house, or sharing a meal in the space downstairs after a long day of volunteer labor. The Fellowship Hall has been transformed by the hands of many people over many years. It’s a special place.

In the last year, we noticed that the floor upstairs started to go soft and sag in the back room. A piece of siding fell off the outer wall. In the words of the contractor who we hired to take care of it, we “had a serious termite problem.”

How surprising that such little things as termites can cause such upheaval. But then again, maybe it’s not so surprising.

Little seeds grow to enormous sizes, feed us, shade us, and clean our air. Little earthworms churn the soil so it is fertile. One person decides to start a movement that reaches millions. What seems like nothing at first can have a huge impact.

And so, we give thanks for little things. In the end, the termite damage wasn’t as bad as it first appeared, and the room is undergoing a renewal.

As we approach the 15th anniversary of Katrina, we want to remember everyone who has, in their own small way over the years, brought renewal to New Orleans. We remember them, and honor them, with an eye towards the future.

None of us know what the extent of the pandemic will be. But we remain hopeful. When recovery comes, it will start small.