Church AKA Love
Have you ever driven 100 miles with a torn muscle in your back and arrived home only to find you’ve left your keys in York, 100 miles away? It’s about as annoying as working on Bank Holiday Monday. I couldn’t even punch my front door in anger, because my shoulder would have probably come away from the muscle I damaged playing Frisbee…don’t ask.
It was a Saturday night. In the distance I could hear a drum beat surfacing. Students peaking on homemade vodka red bulls passed me on my doorstep as I prayed for a miracle. In the end I phoned my vicar. He’s a good friend of mine and we both love Welsh rugby, port and Jesus. We have insight into our ourselves to identify how average, predictable and sinful we actually are. He was happy to let me crash at his home, despite it already housing his wife and five children.
The next day I woke to the sound of silence. The family had left for the morning service whilst I rolled out of bed trying to forget about the pain searing through my spine. I boshed two cuprofen and another pain killer so strong I levitated for an hour. In my suffering I was then treated to a huge Sunday lunch before being driven to church in the evening.
In Texas the phrase “love on” is used when people go out of their way to care for someone. Members of the congregation loved on me. It was amazing. In less than 20 minutes of being in church, I had been given another place to sleep until my keys were posted, medical advice from a GP, a sci fi novel to keep my mind occupied, prayer for healing and restoration, pain killers, an invitation to a party and about 30 messages of sympathy. The miracle I was looking for on my doorstep was unfolding before me.
Jesus gave his church the Holy Spirit, so that they may know love, grace, joy, hope, forgiveness and become more like him. The pain in my back has been wrapped up in the love of Jesus this week. If the scriptures are right when they say that the church is the body of Jesus engaging in the world, then it is fitting that love should be buzzing out of every pew.
I am staggered by some people’s perception of church. I urge anyone who feels they would benefit from that sort of love, care and attention to check out their local churches.
Peace.
