Wednesday September 10, 2014 Some of us had a chance to see the Kingdom of God the other night. We call it ‘Talent Night’ and it’s part of our church year at Wells. Several moments were defining. One that got to me was when the Wells Youth came up to sing a selection from the Lion King. The song reached out, but the singers gave a hint of God’s kingdom. They were tall and short, stocky and thin, some dark skin, some light. There was straight hair and curly, younger and older kids in front of us singing away. Some of these young people will earn PhDs. one day, others the Dsk (doctor of street knowledge). As clearly different as the group appears and is, something else is obvious: a genuine caring for each other and a unity that rises above race and class and status and all the rest of those things which can keep us apart from one another. It’s not what you see ‘on stage’ that confirms this observation. No, it’s what you see as they interact with each other at suppers, or on a trip, or during a work project. Thank God for a place where so many so different can come and find a center so welcoming and growth provoking. Years ago, our congregation faced the reality of a changing neighborhood. Our largely ‘blue collar’ part of town was adding color, and lots of moving was going on. We gathered and shared and most of us clearly felt that it was our moral and spiritual responsibility to stay. When that decision ‘got out,’ and around, a well-known pastor stopped by to share an opinion. “If you move to the right location, you can grow this church to an amazing size. It’s all ‘location, location, location.’” Before he left he added, “And get a bold faced pen to sign your letters and communications. That gets attention.” Please don’t think this a callous or uncaring person. This was the voice of ‘reason,’ and came from what he thought would be best for us. And now, we continue. Not as an ‘amazing size,’ but as a congregation full of welcome, anxious to seek and find and practice God’s will, and with even more variety than mentioned a moment ago about our kids ‘on stage’ at Talent Night. Whether we are a ‘come and go’ church more than others, I can’t say. But across the years many have come and gone. Some because of the changes life brings, some because they felt the Gospel should be practiced in other ways. We have had gains and losses, and just about the time you get ‘down,’ someone walks the aisle, kneels at the altar, you go to them, and say, “Can we help you?” and she says, tears in her eyes, “Let me be part of this, I want to be baptized and join this church.” Humility is required for Kingdom membership. It’s not our merit, but God’s, that opens the door for chances to be part of the Kingdom of God on earth. Note: We say ‘part,’ because we are only that—one part—maybe even one small part, but part! When I stand to preach these days, still a bit weak physically, with a terribly restricted and ‘interesting’ (as one lady put it) voice, I look out on that blessed gathering. All kinds, all colors, all places in the theological spectrum present, some beginners, some accomplished saints, some who walk a block or two, some who drive from Brandon, Clinton, Madison, Vaughn or even farther, and several from different countries, but all of God, I think: “Thank you Lord, that we made a decision a long time ago to stay and find our own small corner in your Kingdom. Please keep us faithful to the essentials of our faith, and open to the uniqueness and needs of others.’ I’m writing this early Tuesday morning for Wednesday’s post. Shortly I’ll get ready and head for the church. Under the canopy at the rear of the building, I’ll meet a hundred or more people—folks of all kinds—do a brief devotion. After that, we’ll share food, and some medical services, and reading opportunities, a chance to get IDs (which these days is one of the keys to getting out of the ‘cycle of poverty,’) and then go upstairs to a much too-overcrowded-with-too-many-things office, and sit at an old desk next to a worn out couch, and work a bit on next Sunday’s sermon. Before the day is done, whether it’s an easy one or hard, I’ll have the thought come in one way or another, “Thank you God, for the reprieve with this cancer stuff, and the chance to serve a bit longer with this people in this corner of your Kingdom. Thank you so much.” Always love, always, Keith
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 11:38:25 +0000
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