Ponderings: Home Away From Home

I stood at the bridge with 80 guests all who had come for food and fellowship. There were also guests from a sister church in Scotland who had come to visit, to learn, to serve our guests beside us. Their Scottish accent, one British flowing amongst all the southern Kentucky Ya'll's was a wonderful sound. We had come together to serve and love all in the name of Christ. I don't know that there is a more beautiful sight.

Even though the man in dirty, sweaty clothes comes with liquor breath and blurry eyes and a huge smile, he is loved on. The sweet children with dirty feet and snotty noses are loved on. And this woman who has been forgiven of her own dirty sins, sins no different in the eyes of the Lord, is loved on by all around her.

This place with the green grass and benches, concrete sitting and a walking bridge in front of her with a river rolling below, she feels at home here.

You may ask why. Because this is where God planted her and she has become comfortable. Why? Because it became home. These people have become family. No, she doesn't know all their names, but she sees them as people created by a God who loves them as He loves her. She loves on them and they love on her. She sees compassion and grace flowing all around the bridge.

The bridge is like an open door for guests to arrive, a place they know they will be accepted and loved on, a place where they can find what they truly need; nourishment for the belly and the soul.

Some may not realize what they are receiving, but down deep I think they know they've experienced something good because they keep coming back. . .and it's not always for the food.