You're Not Supposed to Be Here

My life has contained more misadventures in four decades than the complete lifespans of many people twice my age. One of the more common refrains from these odd experiences include the phrase, “you’re not supposed to be here.” Yet my trailblazing approach to life has been to experience all what God created – and most of what man made along the way – during the dash in my life. For example, I made an impromptu appearance at ESPN headquarters in Bristol several years ago following an interesting workweek across the state and the consequential visit to Mystic Pizza. While visitors were gleefully welcomed at the restaurant in addition to the maritime exhibits along the city, my presence was less-than-welcomed at the sports network’s world headquarters an hour northwest. Because of not knowing the proper decorum (the campus tours filmed in the commercials are not for the public), I was kindly asked to leave the premises but not before I snapped a picture of my car in front of the ESPN sign.

Come to find out, I wasn't supposed to be here

Two days later, I found myself at a very familiar location:  a black Baptist church. Once a member the security team working the neighborhood during morning worship motioned for me to park in the visitor’s space in front of the building as he noticed the out-of-state tags, I simply walked right in and felt welcomed as if I grown up in the community. Members greeted me warmly and as a result, that church holds an indelible part in my memories for years to come – it is quite unfortunate I cannot remember any of their names several years later.

I’ve already detailed in a separate blog about my current church’s initial reluctance toward my wife and me, so I won’t share anymore of that content. It still amazes me that congregations can be so cold toward prospective members and those who are ‘trying one on’ for fitment. The Church is a spiritual hospital; that means we do not have it all together when we set foot on the property or find a section unoccupied by multigenerational families. In Hebrews 13:1-3, we are reminded to “show hospitality to strangers” (Hebrews 13:2). Both Luke and Paul instruct us to show active love to people with social and physical needs (Like 14:13-14; Romans 12:13; Acts 6:1-7). 

Among the body of believers, we have a special responsibility to show love (Galatians 6:10). Otherwise, we are just a band of bodies who use 11 am Sunday morning worship as a social hour out of tradition without seeking out our own relationships with God.

Lesson:  Do not slam the door on strangers citing that they aren’t supposed to be here. Whatever reason for their appearance is why they are here with us:  Show agape love and compassion toward them – when we do, they see and feel our Savior in the midst.