No Special Day Required
Every day seems to come with a special occasion attached to it. There is Ginger Cat Appreciation Day, National Chicken Boy Day, World Coconut Day, Bring Your Manners to Work Day, Hug a Vegetarian Day, and even Ask a Stupid Question Day. September alone can include Small Pet Rodent Awareness Week, Attendance Awareness Month, Happy Cat Month, National Condiment Month, National Courtesy Month, National Mushroom Month, National Yoga Awareness Month, Self-Improvement Month, and World Candle Month.
Some of these observances are fun. Some promote worthwhile causes. A few may leave us wondering who decided that this particular day or month needed to be recognized!
Special days can serve as helpful reminders. The problem comes when we need a special day to remind us to do what should already be part of our everyday lives.
We should not need Bring Your Manners to Work Day to remind us to treat people with courtesy. We should not need a designated day to remind us to appreciate others, show compassion, care for those who are different from us, or practice kindness. As followers of Jesus Christ, these are not occasional observances. They are part of our calling.
Acts 2:44–47 gives us a beautiful picture of the earliest Christian community:
“All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people.”
Notice the words “day by day.” The early Christians did not wait for National Generosity Day before helping someone in need. They did not wait for Courtesy Month before treating one another with goodwill. They did not need Friendship Week before sharing meals, spending time together, and building relationships.
Their faith was lived in community, every day.
This passage does not describe a perfect group of people who never disagreed or struggled. The rest of Acts makes that clear! Instead, it shows a community shaped by the presence of Christ. They worshiped together. They shared with one another. They paid attention to needs. They gathered around tables. They praised God. Their faith affected how they treated people.
That remains a model for us today.
Imagine what our churches and communities could look like if we did not wait for a special observance to be generous. What if every day were a day to notice someone in need? What if every day were a day to offer kindness, extend hospitality, practice patience, and show respect?
We do not need a special day on the calendar to be the church.
Every day is an opportunity to live out the love of Christ.
Every day is an opportunity to share, serve, encourage, forgive, and welcome.
Every day is an opportunity to gather with glad and generous hearts, praising God and seeking the goodwill of our neighbors.
So enjoy Ginger Cat Appreciation Day. Celebrate World Coconut Day if that is your thing. Be aware of small pet rodents during their designated week. There is nothing wrong with a fun or meaningful day of recognition!
But when it comes to loving our neighbors, caring for those in need, treating one another with kindness, and living together as the people of God, no special day is required.
The calendar may tell us what to celebrate today.
Jesus tells us how to live every day.
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