Church is one of my favorite places to be. I spend a lot of time there, anyway (something about my job and all). And, believe it or not, my favor ite place to be is not the Sanctuary but back in the Fellowship Hall. This is the place where the action is (and the coffee pot). You know what I mean…the dinners, banquets, parties, breakfasts, brunches and all that kind of things take place. It is not just about the food, but the fellowship (visiting/talking) is just as filling.

Now, one of the most intriguing places in the church is located just off the Fellowship Hall. It is connected but separate in a unique way. This totally fascinating place is none other than the kitchen. It is like the brain of the Fellowship Hall. This is where the activity really is. The meals are cooked; it is the central gathering place for all the covered dishes. All kinds, of courses, dishes, delicacies and just simply scrumptious items come from the doorway or serving counter of this small area (coffee included). As a matter of fact, I think if a person were to figure the number of people satisfied per square foot, the kitchen would win hands down.

There is, yet, another reason the kitchen stirs my imagination (usually dangerous). There is one item in the kitchen that sometimes leaves me bewildered and occasionally frightened. This is the CHURCH REFRIGERATOR! Have you ever looked inside of this stainless steel cold box? I do not mean an occasional glance in passing, but a deep look to the back, on the bottom shelf, behind the salad dressings, jellies and sweet pickles.

Do you know what the kitchen ladies (no offense kitchen ladies) put in the refrigerator? Of course, there is iced tea, a variety of jellies with a smidge of jelly in an unreachable area, a smorgasbord of salad dressings, sliced cheese, and maybe even a pack of lunch meat. But this is not all. There is oh, so much more. Stuff like leftovers from the last fellowship dinner, a plate of eggs with a bis-cuit and a piece of sausage or bacon from the men’s breakfast. Then there might be a cupful of pea salad or a tablespoon of cranberries. One of my favorites is the salad dressing bottle that has barely a covering of dressing left at the bottom. There is always a plate of food set aside for the working spouse or sick neighbor (even with a name on it) that was forgotten, and because it has a name on it, we can’t throw it away!

Now I believe in being frugal, and we should not waste. But somewhere we probably ought to put some restrictions on how long to keep it (Sunday to Wednesday or Wednesday to Sunday) or how much is worth saving verses disposing (below a pint Tupperware bowl—pitch it!). Or maybe we should appoint someone to go in each week and just start pitching (if it’s growing fuzz, it’s gone).

I say this in humor and jest. However, there is a great analogy to the ‘fridge and the food’ satire. I noticed my life (and probably yours) is much like the church ‘fridge.’ We, too, put things in there and refuse to pitch ’em. We think that we will use them or might need them later. We do not want to be wasteful. It’s kind of like the coffee ad that says “good to the last drop.”

What are some of the delicacies we do not wish to part with…? Money is one area. Maybe the extra money could go to missions, sponsoring a kid for camp, or taking a visitor out to lunch. Time is another area. How about sacrificing a worship service on Sunday to help in the Nursery or Children’s Church. How about visiting a shut in or a nursing home. Have any talents you are keeping on ice? How about serving on a committee, and put your gift(s) to work in areas needed.

See, we say there is only so much and when we get a little extra, we put it on the shelf in the back of the fridge. The problem remains that we leave it there and do not do anything with it and it just goes BAD! Then when the sight or smell gets so strong, we have to dispose of it. It becomes good for nothing.

Same is true with our talents, time and money. Something comes up that is more demanding, something breaks that takes the cash, we miss the opportunity to serve and when it’s gone, well, it’s gone. When talents go unused, we forget how to use them, we lose them. Just leave it on the shelf and get to it later when…Next thing we know, it puts the cafeteria mystery meat to shame. We figure we need to call the toxic HASMAT crew in to dispose of it.

Don’t let your life become like a refrigerator (homes can be as bad as or worse than any church ‘fridge). Take inventory today. Clean out the old and the mold and the downright funky looking and smelling. Put the truly perishable things in the cool container we know as the refrigerator. That goes for your ‘fridge and your life.

Cleaning out the ‘fridge Bro. Tim