Want a really weird interpretation of a biblical text?

“All who believed were together and had all things in common.” This is one descriptor of the early church found in the Book of Acts. As Deer Park prepared for their annual garage sale, this short scriptural text continually kept popping into my mind.

Believers in garage sales had all come together! They had all things in common and there were lots of things! The lobby of the church, the sanctuary of the church, and the fellowship hall of the church filled up rather quickly.

And people were busy. They were focused on bringing in items from cars and trucks, opening boxes, and sorting treasures. Then they were pricing items and preparing for the time when people would come together for the big event.

A team of folks cooked pies which is a tradition for the garage sale. The pies alone fetched $1,100.00. The youth gathered to sell hotdogs and beverages, another tradition of those who believe in garage sales. At the end of the sale, the church had made over $8,700.00.

This short time of coming together as believers in garage sales and briefly holding all things in common was phenomenal. The Garage Sale was a win-win all around. Old things were re-purposed, reused, and saved from the landfill. Some items ended up being recycled.  People cleared out their homes and garages. Others furnished their homes and filled their garages with tools, bikes, toys, and other items.

I was speaking with a teenager from the community as I watched the large amount of things that the family was purchasing – furniture, rugs, kitchen wares, and I asked, “What are you doing furnishing your home?” The reply was, “Yes, it’s about time.” This family are rather recent immigrants to Canada and live in low income housing. They were thrilled with what they were able to acquire.

Yes, Believers who had all things in common, and they are believers in more than garage sales. This is what I discovered again in a fresh and exciting way:

1. People believe in community. The fellowship was electrifying.
2. People believe in re-purposing, reusing, and recycling. They believe in doing something to care for the environment.
3. People believe in helping the larger community knowing that one person’s junk is another’s treasure.
4. People care and really desire that, for at least once in a while, a life can be touched, a neighbor helped, and a community of care, laughter, and love can be lived out in something as simple as a garage sale.

Many, many thanks to all who participated, who believe, and hope, and dream, and hold all things in common!