Created to Be a Blessing

by Traci Hubbard (c) Hubcatstide 2025

I don’t know how many of you are aware that the rapture was predicted to happen last week. Since we are all here, I assume we are experiencing a global Ascension Deficit Disorder.

When I lived in Texas, my neighbor was Mr. Johnson.  He’s the kind of man who kept his yard perfectly trimmed, his driveway spotless, and his newspaper stacked like soldiers on the porch. One day, I accidentally backed my car into his mailbox. He always looked very serious to me, so I braced myself for an explosion.

But instead of yelling, he walked over calmly, looked at the bent post, and said, “Well, I guess the good news is—at least I don’t have to bend down as far to get my mail anymore.” Then he laughed. And here’s the kicker: the next day, he showed up at my door with donuts, saying, “Figured you could use a little sugar after all that stress.”

Now, who does that? Most people would’ve been demanding a brand-new mailbox with express delivery. But Mr. Johnson understood something: he wasn’t created to belittle people but to bless them. Whether you’re a Formula 1 race car driver or you drive like you’re on rails like me, each of us is designed to share kindness, hope, and goodness with the world.

Jesus made it abundantly clear that our purpose goes far beyond ourselves. Last Sunday I shared from Matthew 5:14-16, He said, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden… Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” That’s more than poetic—it’s a calling. Jesus didn’t say, “Try to be a light if you feel like it.” He said, “You are THE light of the world.”

Throughout His ministry, Jesus showed what it means to bless others: He healed the sick, the bent woman, the woman who bled for 12 years. He comforted the lonely, “Zaccheus come on down out of that tree, I want to eat dinner with you in your home.” He gave the lost and ashamed people integrity and a name, like the woman the Pharisees paid a man to sexually defile – while they waited for Jesus to shame her, he revealed their hearts and set her free from their condemnation and her own. Jesus fed the hungry with physical nutrition and food for their souls.  And he forgave his naysayers and executioners. These are just a few illustrations of how the very being – the presence of Jesus, the ways of Jesus, were a blessing. He taught us to love our neighbours, even when they test our patience—like the ones who mow their lawns at 7 a.m. on Saturday!

In Luke 6:38, He shared, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.” Blessings aren’t just for us—they’re meant to overflow, like the plums, peaches, berries, grapes, apples, onions and basil many of you share with us from your garden’s overflow. And now I am making jelly! Your overflow will flow all the way to stockings in Calgary this Christmas.

Think about the simple everyday blessings we encounter. Have you ever had someone let you go ahead in line at the grocery store when you’re juggling a cranky toddler and a melting ice cream tub? That small act can feel like winning the lottery. Or think of the time a stranger helped you change a flat tire in the pouring rain, and you wondered if they were secretly an angel in disguise. Or the time when you are offering a reflection knowing there are a handful in the congregation who do not like your delivery and humor, and while they stare at you with a face that looks like it just ate a sour pickle, someone else in the congregation smiles encouragement into you, and you remember why you are there and who you are, and that you are right where you are supposed to be.

One of my favourite stories is about Mrs. Owens, a woman in one of my congregations. She noticed the elderly gentleman next door struggling to shovel his driveway every winter. Instead of just waving from her window, she bundled up, braved the cold, and cleared his walk. Soon, neighbours began joining her, and before long, the whole street was clear—along with hearts warmed with the sense of a community that cared. That’s the power of being a blessing: one small act multiplies. One small smile lifts your spirit and empowers your gifts.

Folks, kind people and critical people are always around us, and each one of us have been both. Theodore Roosevelt said, “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.”

In her book, “The Gifts of Imperfection” Brene Brown writes, “To become fully human means learning to turn my gratitude for being alive into some concrete common good. It means growing gentler toward human weakness. It means practicing forgiveness of my and everyone else's hourly failures to live up to divine standards. It means learning to forget myself on a regular basis in order to attend to the other selves in my vicinity. It means living so that "I'm only human" does not become an excuse for anything. It means receiving the human condition as blessing and not curse, in all its achingly frail and redemptive reality.” If we have a choice to be critical or kind, I hope we choose to be the blessing of kindness.

Let’s be honest—sometimes our efforts to bless others go sideways. Like the time someone tried to organize a surprise birthday party for my ministry colleague and accidentally sent the invitation to his email instead of his wife’s. The look of surprise was… well, let’s just say the candles weren’t the only things that got blown away.

Or consider the classic Canadian scenario—holding the door open for someone, only to realize you’re now holding it for the next twenty people in line. At some point, it becomes a full-time job! But isn’t it wonderful that being a blessing often creates moments of laughter and connection?

Folks, you don’t need a theology degree or a superhero cape to make a difference by being a blessing. Each one of us can choose to speak kind words or give a hug like John and Marg, welcomers and huggers extraordinaire. My first day in the office here, Sharon raced out of her office and hugged me in a tight squeeze for at least thirty seconds. My first thought was, OH no! Things must be really bad here and I’ve got a mess to clean up.” But then, we sat down to get to know one another, and I quickly learned, she’s a hugger and a baker and probably a candle stick maker.  There is always something to compliment, someone’s efforts, someone’s energy. Every day there are countless opportunities to give encouragement or intentionally ask how someone is doing and taking the time to listen, not fix something, just listening and being with that person in the moment.  Sometimes the greatest gift is simply being present and attentive. It shows people they matter. Kind words are free and can lift spirits in an instant. Selfish words or silence when kindness is needed, these come with a heavy price tag to both parties.

Caveat: Sharon will tell me when my eyebrows are too dark, or that my bangs need to be trimmed because they cast a shadow over my eyes and make the bags under my eyes more prominent…yep. She said that to which I replied, “I trimmed my bangs last week, and need the cameras working so we are not using one from the floor angled straight up to my bags.” If anyone knows how to get rid of these bags, I’m all ears.

Folks, each one of us can help where we can.  We can hold doors open, carry a bag, offer a ride, or shovel a driveway, or show up early to church like Lily, Karen, Arlene, basically all of you have done this to help make coffee, or get the sound up and running, or just to be part of the welcoming team. Small gestures add up.

Each of us can share what we have whether it’s time, talents, or resources. Every kind word, every action each of you are giving is creating energy that is drawing visitors to our sanctuary every Sunday. Watching Tom and Sonja welcoming people is a wonderful experience. Witnessing Scott and Cindy Huff being welcomed into our community of faith is a blessing to me and to them. Something wonderful is happening among us and many of you share that you can feel the presence of the Spirit. Each one of you is a blessing that is rippling throughout our beautiful Lake Country. And each one of us can pray for others, sending loving energy and thoughts. We might not always know what a person is facing, but LOVE knows and praying for them is a powerful act of love.

Folks, being a blessing is never about getting everything right, or being our best selves all the time. That’s impossible. What is possible is to be aware of our intention, even in the smallest of acts.  As Jesus showed us, the best blessings come from hearts willing to serve, love, and forgive. When our “blessing” is a batch of homemade jam, that sweet stickiness may stay on our thighs, but it will also stay in the recipient’s heart.

As we leave today, I hope you leave remembering that you were created to be a blessing. Your smile, your generosity, your willingness to help—they matter, more than you know. Please do not underestimate the impact of your light and your salt. Sometimes, what feels like a tiny act can transform someone’s day—or even their life.

The Holy doesn’t ration out blessings. The sun shines on the kind faces and sour pickle faces. The rain falls on the just and the unjust. If the Spirit can love like that, and we are made in Her image, then surely we too are created not just to receive blessings, but to be blessings.

Now go be LOVE and enjoy the blessing you were created to be—even if, like me, you may need to consider not having a heavy foot on the gas pedal. May it be so, amen.