Fresh and In Season

Click here to read John 4:31-42

Ever since moving to Florida, I have been trying to adjust to a different rhythm and setting in life.  One of the many blessings is that right now it is strawberry season here in the Sunshine state.  The other night our family feasted on ripe, ruby red berries that were sweet to the tips of our tongues and a special treat to our still adjusting palates (after all nothing much grows right now in the bleak mid winter of the Midwest).  

Jesus has just had a life changing conversation with a Samaritan woman.  He has just offered her living water.  Then, the disciples come back and sound like my mother-in-law.  "Eat something, Jesus, you are skin and bones.  Why not have seconds on the pot roast?  More potatoes?"

Jesus then talks about the harvest.  While his words are a bit cryptic, at least they make some sense given the disciples were talking about food.  But, Jesus was not talking about harvesting strawberries or snowballs if you are reading this in the northern part of the country.  I think Jesus was using this as a metaphor for sharing our faith with each other.

Now, I am sure many of you just had flashes of being Jehovah's Witnesses, knocking on your neighbor's door, and trying to convert someone.  That is not really what I am talking about.  I don't know why this is the only image that comes to mind when we think about sharing faith.  Because the truth is, there are a multitude of ways we who drink from living water and seek to follow Christ can invite others to "Come and see".  It is not, to use Shane Hipps' words, trying to "Sell Water by the River".  What we are called to do is to let our faith shine like a light.  

But we also have to find our voice.  We can no longer assume "They will know we are Christians by our love."  It just does not work that way.  Neither do we need to be aggressive (or passive aggressive) about sharing our faith to every single person.  But there is a lot of room to roam in-between.  Current stats say that you already know lots of people who do not go to church.  Some because they are angry at church, but some are just waiting for someone to ask.  Some need to come to church and have their stereotypes of what church is dismantled by our extravagant welcome to whoever they are and wherever they are on live's journey.  

Too often I think the UCC is the best kept secret.  We hide behind long historical names on our church signs that have lost their meaning to many in this world (but not to the people in the pews - hence the tension).  So, short of changing our name, we need to find our voice and invite people.  Invite them to sit beside you in the pew.  Invite them to have coffee.  Be rude to your friends at church on Sunday morning for the sake of the stranger in your midst.  Learn the person's name, a bit about their history, and help connect them to others.  The earliest Christians were known for their care, that is how the church grew.  I think we can still care for people better than any other organization.  In that, we find living water.  That kind of vision for the church today is always fresh and in season...no matter the month or the weather outside.

May our churches abound with more than traces of God's grace, but with an extravagant welcome this Sunday.

Blessings ~