I wish more people could've seen what I saw today.

Wolcott UMC has a monthly food giveaway called "Bountiful Blessings." Essentially, anyone can come one Saturday a month and get free food that includes staples, meat, beverages, bread, eggs, etc. No questions. No forms.

Today was only my second time in attendance. Last month I monitored the bread area, but today I had to fill Wayne's shoes because he was at a training event in Indianapolis.

His job is to mingle with those who are waiting, pass out Angel Food forms (we also have that ministry going on in another part of the church), and dismiss people pew by pew to get their food.

I wasn't really prepared for what I saw.

I counted 90 people who participated today. First of all, we typically have 30-35 people in Sunday worship, so seeing 90 people fill up most of the sanctuary surprised me. Most of them had been waiting at least an hour--some, two hours--for this food. What still persists in my memory tonight, though, is eyes. People's eyes.

Many people would not make eye contact with me at first. Some obviously felt awkward, and others looked sad. A few smiled, but most just looked off and away.

I did know a few people, so I started there with some conversations. A few people asked me questions. I handed out Angel Food forms. I asked some kids about school and if they had any homework yet.

Before the actual distribution began, the director gave some announcements, and we sang "Happy Birthday" to three people in the crowd. Since Wayne wasn't there, Amy asked everyone to recite the Lord's Prayer.

She gave them the page number in the hymnal, but we didn't see anyone reach for one. The prayer was strong. Loud. I smiled.

It was then time to dismiss the people pew by pew. At this point, I had the opportunity to make eye contact with everyone and say a few words. The eyes didn't look quite so distant. Most even looked at me and smiled.

As people made their way through the line and out the doors to their vehicles, MANY thanked me. "Thank you for making this available to my family" helped make that awkward spot in my heart feel a little less awkward today.

Being called a pastor's wife or preacher's wife is weird, still. Those eyes, though...those eyes could make that feeling pass more quickly than I thought possible.