I was a stranger and you welcomed me

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As we enjoy our less crowded streets and enjoy our fall festivals from the Wooden Boat Festival to the Turkey Trot and all those Santa visits, I find myself once again grateful to live in this community where as my son is learning, "You can't go two blocks without seeing someone you know." I mostly enjoy that reality of our small familiar community. I enjoy seeing faces I recognize on the beach, in the grocery store, at a concert at the Gaff, or on the porch of our church. On the other had there are times when I don't want social interaction; I value solitude from time to time to feed my soul. 

Another shadow side of our living in our smaller community is we sometimes miss welcoming the newcomer. I include myself in that sin of omission and think about folks I saw as strangers whom I failed to connect with to make a friend. Being here in my 14th year, I think it's partially a survival instinct that kicks in; I tend to put on my "tourist blinders" when I'm out and about in the summer time, for example, and sometimes fail to recognize even people I know well as I rush to go about my business. 

This week at one of our services we read from Matthew 25: "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?" And the king will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." (NRSV translation) 


Jesus teaches us about our relationships with one another in that passage. Jesus identifies with those who are "least" among us, and perhaps challenges us to hold that awareness as we go about life. The passage goes on to condemn the group who does not "do it to the least" among them, and so failed to serve Jesus in them. 

A teacher once pointed out to me that there's a big difference between a "friendly church" and a "church of friends." The first being welcoming, and the second being inward focused. I suppose the same can go for a whole community. As we celebrate the things we love about this place whether it's heading to a festival or a basket ball game, I hope we can notice the "stranger" or newcomer among us and include them, recognizing that Jesus Christ is in them, just as he dwells in us. Ultimately, Jesus teaches, there is no them. There is only us. Recognizing Christ in the stranger means we become aware of our deep kinship, our interdependence, that we are all beloved children of God. 

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