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'Christ Walked Among Us in the Guise of a Little Boy'
CHICAGO, IL (July 9, 2002) - Editor's note: More than 200 congregations in the
Evangelical Covenant Church send newsletters to the Department of
Communication each month. Following is an article written by Janet
Hanson
of Hillside Covenant Church about a little boy at her church's annual
All-Church retreat. She says the youngster taught her a lesson about the
real meaning of Christian "community."
By Janet Hanson
The annual All-Church Retreat had something new this year. Whose idea
was
it? Could anyone have known that such a simple tool could become a
profound
vehicle for the Spirit of God?
We were each given a little book, assembled like a passport, which read:
Have as many people sign it as possible (like a stamp from each port
of
call), and in the signing, find out something about the other
person.
Some left the passport in the room, forgetting the whole intent, but
others
(at least half-heartedly) embraced the idea, self-consciously tapping on
the shoulder people they had never met before. Then there was Jason, six
years old - sixty in his intuitive grasp of what was needed. Pencil and
book in hand, we wandered the camp, walking up to people one by one.
Earnest, purposeful, he spent the weekend filling his book - name after
name, covering every page.
Saturday evening the prize was given - to a teenage girl - for the most
names written. Jason was undeterred. The prize was not what mattered. A
late night concert, and he was found walking up and down the aisles,
pointing to each person in turn, silently pursuing. Stepping over
others'
feet to claim one more for the book, he seemed oblivious to the music,
the
propriety of his actions. His mom told us that Jason is by nature shy
and
uncertain about talking to strangers. We were filled with wonder at his
tenacious spirit. I was humbled in the presence of such purity of heart.
Sunday morning found Jason still looking - 145 names, but could there be
just one more? The closing service was in a redwood grove. Worship,
praise,
communion, sharing. Then a question was asked: "What do you want to
thank
God for?" A lonely widow stood, tears streaming down her face and said,
"Bless you, whoever gave us this way to greet one another. How many
Sundays
I try in vain to catch just one person's eye. Everyone is so busy
rushing
off with things to do. It meant so much to have so many speak to me.
Please, let's keep doing this."
A young man, awkward of speech, grabbed the microphone, and added, "You
were all so nice to me! I'm used to people being mean. Thank you for
trusting me near your kids." He cried, too, and told us he loved us.
Others
shared and the service continued. Something holy was happening.
Someone's
presence was being felt in a powerful way. The leaders were all choked
up.
No one knew how to say what we were all experiencing. It crossed my mind
that we should take off our shoes.
Drew, our emcee, was asked to give a benediction. He hesitated a moment
and
stood, holding something above his head. "Here is my benediction. I have
in
my hand Jason's book. We are all in it. No one is left out. Each one of
us
matters."
What else was left to say? Christ walked among us in the guise of a
little
boy one weekend. And we, His Church, for one, shining moment looked just
like him.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
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