A place of welcome

This morning on my way home from dropping the minions off at school, I saw two very different scenes within one block of each other. On one side was a family in lawn chairs campaigning for someone in the primaries. On the other side of the block was a man cleaning up his sleeping place on a bus bench from the night before.

It was quite the contrast. But the thought occurred to me that both are looking for safety. Belonging. Home.

This past weekend in my sermon I mentioned that I found belonging during middle school in my home church's youth group. It was a safe harbor for me after years of people no longer knowing what to say in the time after my father died at so young an age.

I also made a comment that some of you were lucky to have a youth group in Roman Catholic churches in this area of the country. I was later told this comment came off as sarcastic and offensive, but that was far from my intention - and I am extremely sorry that in my lack of sleep it came across that way.

Where I come from, we did not have youth groups in the Roman Catholic churches. Every other place I have lived as an adult, even the Catholic cities, their existence has been few and far between. So when I said "congrats," I really meant it. Anyone who found such a community was truly blessed.

We all need that safe place during teenagehood. Somewhere to belong and find a second home. An opportunity to share life among our friends without judgment and find what we believe.

My own youth group had such a profound effect on me that my first job out of seminary was as an ordained pastor for youth. I knew that time of life was just that important.

But what I found over the years is that the need for home does not stop when kids turn eighteen and graduate high school. Nor when they graduate college or turn twenty-five. Many adults spend their entire lives still searching for their true home.

And Christ called this crazy band of misfits to be just such a community of welcome. To search and to seek others who need a place, too. To ensure everyone has what they need in this life.

That is who we are called to be.

Blessings,

Rev. Janie