love buckets

Last week we carried out another Love Chapel Hill mission. With the generous help of my friend Izzy AhKuoi (Dustin's dad) and Family Garden, we filled 6 large buckets with beautiful flowers and left them around town. A simple sign encouraged people to take a flower as a reminder that they are loved.

We did not expect to witness any of the response ourselves. The plan was to drop the buckets in strategic locations and slip away. But as we were carrying a bucket to the local hospital that morning, we offered a flower to a group of nurses heading home from the night shift. They asked who the flowers were for. We answered, "You."

They were clearly surprised (and maybe a little confused). As they took a flower, they said things like, "Last night was so tough. I need this flower. You don't know how much this means." As they walked away, One nurse said to the other, "See, doesn't that make last night go away?"

An older gentleman, with the help of a cane, was walking behind the nurses. He waited until they had flowers, and stepped up to see what was going on. We offered one to him as well. He seemed hesitant for a split second. Then, pulling one from the bucket he said with heavy emotion, "My wife's been real sick. Maybe this will do something for her."

We saw people, flowers in hand, walking Franklin, waiting at bus stops, riding their bikes. Businesses and offices put them on display in vases. Little kids, homeless guys, college students. By mid afternoon, not one single flower was left. Not one.