Visiting

written by Pastor Adam Jones, Lead Pastor of Open Door Church

I knocked on the door and I heard that familiar, raspy voice call, “Who is it?”.  It was a concise question with a hint of suspicion.  George lived at St. James Place and he had learned to be careful.  I identified myself and he opened the door.  I walked into the small apartment with tile floors and cinderblock walls.  It was about 15 ft by 10 ft.  As I entered the odor of urine hit me.  I didn’t mention it and asked George how he was doing.  He looked at me then looked down and said, “Not good.”  He began to cry.  George was disabled and had to get around in a motorized chair.  On this day, he had not been able to get to the toilet in time.  It had spread over the floor.  Some on his clothes.  He was embarrassed and he couldn’t clean it up. 

That day George was vulnerable and frustrated, and he trusted me with it.  He let me glimpse his world in a new way.  We got it cleaned up.

That experience caused me to see the bathrooms at our church building in a different way.  At that time, I realized for the first time there was no way for George to use the restroom in our church building.  I just had not seen it before and he had not mentioned it.  No one in a wheelchair of any kind could access our bathrooms.  George was our greeter then.  He was truly a joyful light in our community.  He always said hello to everyone who came through the door and he had jokes.  And yet, until I entered his world that day, I had not realized how difficult our facility could be for him.  

Well, we changed it.  We hired a contractor and redesigned the bathrooms with twice the space and big, wide doors.  We also installed grab bars.  Now anyone in a wheelchair has a bathroom.

I have adopted the discipline of befriending and visiting those who live on the margins.  George, among others, has changed the way I see the world.  Visits help me step into other worlds and remember that life is not as easy and simple for my brothers and sisters living on the margins. 

Jesus spent much of his time with the poor and marginalized.  He seemed to look for them in my view.  Maybe we all would do well to look for those who have a harder time than we do.  If I only love those who love me I may miss so much of God’s kingdom and vision for the world. 

Maybe there is a visit in store for you that will change the way you see things as well.  

PRACTICE: Over the next few months, prayerfully consider whose life you might be called to visit, to experience life in their reality. One of the BIC Core Values is Serving Compassionately -We value serving others at their point of need, following the example of our Lord Jesus. What better way of knowing a person’s point of need than by engaging with them in their daily life?

Resources

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