THE LAST RIVER MILE

I heard a great story from a church with whom I am somewhat familiar. As many congregations do, this one has a weekly fellowship dinner and small-group discipleship gathering. Not too long ago someone new to the church showed up for this event. The newcomer was one of the following: 1) A gay or lesbian person, 2) Someone with mental health challenges, 3) A person from a different ethnic background than most of the people in that congregation, 4) Someone with a non-binary gender identity, 5) An unhoused person, 6) An undocumented immigrant, 7) Someone with a different political view than most of the people in the church, 8) A person with a criminal record. Amazingly, the church members did a pretty good job of welcoming their new guest.

At a recent weekly session attendance was unusually high. The newcomer noted above arrived late, and took a seat alone. As the meal continued and the group readied for their learning sessions, the pastor was moving through the crowd taking pictures, with the permission of those getting their pictures taken. When he came to the new person, that individual happily agreed to be photographed. Suddenly, a church member ran over and stood alongside the newcomer, saying that there was no way she was going to allow the new person to have a picture taken alone.

Hearing this story, it was as if God thumped me on the head saying, “THIS is Church! This is what the Kingdom looks like. This is what it means to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Nobody gets pictured alone.”

I felt conviction. Looking at the list above, would I run to the side of any of them to have my picture taken with them? Is there any one of them whom I would not photobomb? If so, I might have some work to do.

I’ll see you around the next bend in the river.