Love your Neighbor

I'm starting to get upset. It's my season to afflict the comfortable, and I feel like it needs to start in the church. Every week, I go to church and see tons of people that I don't know anything about. I've never spoken to them beyond a hello in passing as I'm coming and going from service. This never used to bother me, but lately, it eats at me like a fat kid on a twinkie.

Starting some time last year, I entered into a phase of my life that put me in over my head. Coming to grips with my spirituality has lead me down a road of disappointment and ultimately guilt. I now see how we all fall short of the glory of God, and though I'm still disappointed in myself, grace is a powerful thing, and I've accepted that there is only so much that I can do with my limited knowledge, so I'm trying. There are, however, people that I attend church with that never venture to another row, sit in the same place week after week, and hope that no one talks to them. I'm not one of these people. I used to pray for boldness, and if I continue to, I'll be pushing Dave off the stage so I can share with the congregation. Every week, I try to meet someone new, and I don't mean just their name, I like to get to know something about them, and sometimes if the mood strikes me, I'll make plans for coffee, just so I can get to know people that I share a love of God with. I see the whole range, some that duck when I walk up, some that shake my hand and we share a few kind words, and then, there's the one's like Jerry who gives me a hug and Steve and Dave have to wait for us to stop talking before service can continue.

Getting back to what is driving me crazy. Could you imagine if the professed love that comes out of a church, actually came out of a church. There would be two lines at homeless shelters, one for people that are eating and one for people that wanted to help, but then, why would you need to open shelters if those people were so willing to help, open homes work just as well to someone that was hungry. I try to cook for myself, and I suck at it, I usually make about 4 times too much food, but I try and eat it anyway, and just feel guilty when sometimes I throw it away because it sits in the fridge too long. Would anyone commit suicide anymore if there were 10 people genuinely concerned with them that called every day? I just now got off the phone with Jerry and we talked for 17 minutes about toast. Every funeral would have thousands of people at them, not just that knew the deceased, but people that want to be there to support those they love in a time of grief.

There are far too many what-ifs in this life for me to worry about what other people are doing to expand the kingdom of God on Earth, but I'll do my part, and for now, I think it's my place to afflict those that are comfortable with only going to church. I'm sorry if you're one of them, and you should probably not let me sit and talk to you, because I'll share everything with you and expect that you'll do the same, then worse, I'll ask you next week how you've been, and the next week, and then next... you get the idea.