HCLM BLOG

Thursday night I was picking up the leftovers from Panera across the street from church. I really didn’t want to. It was a long day. I had just finished a meeting and wanted to go home. Esteban, our student ministry intern who also works there while going to school, texted me and asked me if I could do it. He had arranged for us to be the recipient of those gifts starting tonight. There I ran into one of the workers and through our conversation said that she was looking for a church to go to. Even I can walk through a door that is open that wide. In the course of our conversation, she shared that she had to drop out of school to care for her ailing mother. She works on Sunday mornings but was looking for a place to belong; I imagine looking for hope and support. I thought Esteban’s team would be perfect. I invited her. I knew she needed to finish her closing responsibilities but I didn’t want to end our conversation using a Christianize phrase, “I’ll pray for you.” Then I thought of another team, led by Michelle Bergman. Once a month, on the first Thursday, they break from their routine of praying through our prayer list to hold a prayer service so we can specifically pray for healing. I got over my fear of rejection and also invited her and her mom to come on November 4. She had tears in her eyes. I hope she comes. More importantly, I hope in those few moments, that she felt as if God was connecting with her. 

Then on the way home I was listening to a podcast (the radio in my classic ford ranger pickup doesn't work so I put one headphone from my ipod in my ear). They were telling stories of people who had lost belief in things. This one girl had lost faith in God when a friend of hers died. Through a series of funny and interesting events she ended up on the phone with a pastor/football coach. The podcast played their phone conversation as the pastor/football coach tried to share his faith.

I had told my friend earlier to remember that it's never his job to convert. All we are asked to do is "provide and answer for the hope that we have." We just put in out there, and allow the Holy Spirit to do what he will with it. A guiding principle for me in conversations of faith has been to be as transparent as possible. I don't try to sound holy or give a good answer, just the one that occurs to me.

The guy on this podcast slowly walked the girl through philosophical proofs of God, and refutations of evolution. He tried to explain to her the problem of sin, and the importance of objective truth. She got off the phone confused and frustrated. All she wanted was someone to hear her out about the loss of her friend, and help her process where God was. But instead of really listening and having a real conversation the guy loaded is barrel full of excerpts from tracts. It was pretty disheartening, and reminded me why I focus on helping people create authentic relationships; cause sharing our faith is not about proving anything it is a moment of authenticity and vulnerability...at least it otta be.