Often, places, people and even God are more welcoming and
comfortable than they may appear.
Yesterday, I was doing some work in the coffee shop when a man
in a dark suit, black shoes, blue shirt and tie walked in like he
was looking for someone. He had sunglasses propped on his shaved
head.
Under his suit coat I could see his badge. I didn’t think I was
in trouble, and law enforcement sends uniformed officers when they
need to take someone into custody most of the time, so I was not
really worried, but I’ve seen enough TV and movies to know that
guys like this are not into customer service and usually are all
business.
Maybe I was going to see something exciting.
What I did see was wonderful. He found who he was looking for
when a beautiful, blonde little girl, about 4 years old came
running up and gave him a comfortable, squeezy hug.
He sat down and she jumped up on his lap, obviously one of her
favorite places to be, and as he tickled her, it was obvious that
he was happy to be her dad.
His appearance meant something different to her that it did to
me. He did not look official because he was her daddy.
That scene can inspire a variety of interpretations, but for my
purposes I saw something we all need, an innocent and comfortable
trust in a strong and loving authority figure.
The churches in our town work to help people see that a powerful
and Holy God is also the benevolent and gracious savoir that
invites us into a warm and loving relationship.
Romans 8:15 is an often quoted verse in Sunday school classes,
worship services and small groups. “For you did not receive a
spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the
Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father,” or Daddy.
Many people today are looking for help from someone who they
think has the power to make a difference. The recent election
reveals that fact.
Fear and anxiety are at critically high levels because of the
enormity of our problems and the feeling that we cannot solve them
— individually or as a nation.
Foreclosures, bankruptcy and unemployment produce the obvious
upheaval, but insult is added to injury with accusations of
embarrassment and shame that make us feel worthless and like life
is not worth living.
If we do not already feel like God has disappointed us, we feel
too ashamed to attend a church or ask for prayer and certainly we
hope we can hide this failure and avoid rejection.
Personal issues are another layer of problems that cause
despair. Philip Yancey in his book, “What’s So Amazing About
Grace,” tells the story of a runaway girl who in the pain of the
consequences of her bad choices and at the end of her “friends” and
resources decided to return home, if her family would have her.
She called to ask for forgiveness, hoping to find an open door,
but all she got was the voice mail so she left a message, got the
next bus home and hoped for the best. She feared what she would
find when she got there but as the bus pulled up to the station she
was perplexed to see a crowd.
She recognized members of her family and saw them holding a
banner with words of immeasurable love, “Welcome Home.” In another
story in the same book he is trying to help a desperate mother who
has ruined her life and the life of her child through
prostitution.
Responding to his persuasion for her to find help somewhere,
even church, she was aghast in her response, “Church? Why would I
go to church? I already feel bad enough about myself.”
Sometimes the churches, filled with fallible people, get it
wrong and miss the opportunity to dispense grace, but most are
working to be a community of refuge, healing and rebuilding. Many
times the place and the people that can provide the greatest help
is the last place we look.
They appear to be or to represent the authority that will
condemn us for our bad choices, but they are the ambassadors to the
supreme authority who is pleased and comfortable with the title
“Daddy” and is happiest when his children come running to him with
all they have or don’t have.
Pastor Dan Hettinger serves as director of community life at New
Hope Presbyterian Church. E-mail him at dhettinger@newhopepres.org.