It’s been a good week of reflection on how bringing not only food and clothing, but a celebratory event to a homeless shelter is like the kingdom of heaven on earth. The surprise of the guests, the trust that’s been built over time, and the singular nature of giver and receiver – how distinctions fall away and we are all recipients of God’s grace – have all enriched our understanding of God’s will in heaven being done here on earth. Marti cracked open a hard shell when she first came up with this idea, and good stuff has been pouring out ever since.

Yesterday I took a load of clothes over to the garage of one of the volunteers and we’ve got ten racks on wheels borrowed from a local department store. Not yet full of clothes, we believe they’re going to be. Of course looking at those racks made us realize we will have to rent a truck with a hydraulic lift in order to get everything over to Isaiah House. We hardly know what we are doing here, and that’s part of what makes it so much fun.

The volunteer made a comment about how a young person who is going to do some music for Wednesday’s fashion show was a little nervous, and I answered how that was totally unnecessary because this is the easiest audience anyone could ever play for. They love and appreciate everything you do. I’ve been known to make a fool of myself in front of this group and they appreciate that I tried. Hey, it’s better than the show they were going to get which was nothing.

It’s probably too late now to send clothes (Monday is the deadline for receiving), but we can still receive donations for undergarments. This has been a challenge for me to write about (i.e. how to you put bras and panties in a devotional?). But Marti took the cake when she came up with this little description to go along with the gift card we are going to give each one.

We Attended Lingerie Academy and Failed. Here is Why.

✓Lesson 1: Buying for yourself and not the recipient will result in her polite murmur of thanks as she says to herself, “I would never be caught dead in this!”

✓Lesson 2: Do you know if she has a prejudice against frills, flimsies, and fiddly bits? Does she prefer an ocean of lace or cotton? Is the undergarment for the extravagantly endowed or the voluptuous vixen?

✓Lesson 3: Camiknickers are passé, the trend is towards brighter colors with everyone but blonds looking good in red. Playtex has moved on from the Cross Your Heart to the Wonderbra.

✓Final lesson 4: Do you have any idea of the recipient’s “vital statistics?”

Clearly we flunked. Therefore, in lieu of us choosing an intimate for you, we hope you enjoy choosing whatever close-to-the-skin item you wish to purchase with this enclosed gift card from the Women of Vision.

[Your contributions towards these cards can be made online in the usual manner (designate for Operation Runway) or via check made out to SMMI and mailed to 1278 Glenneyre, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 (write Operation Runway in the memo). We’re preparing for 65 women.]