The Really Hard Things

The following was written by Rev. Larry Nielsen, Pastor of Shawneespring Community Church. SCC is an innovative Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) founded by Rev. Nielsen in a care facility near Harrison, Ohio. It is with his permission that it appears here.

It started as stupidly as most arguments—he expressed his disgust with the wall-to-wall media coverage of the recent death of a controversial entertainer, and she sharply disagreed with his viewpoint. Tempers heated up, ancient history surfaced, and finally, he used a racial slur. Their friendship died. They stopped speaking to one another. They awkwardly avoided contact in a very crowded environment.

And then God intervened.

During a worship service that they both attended (yes, faithful churchgoers can be just as stupid as those who don't) they heard scripture about how to become first in the Kingdom of God. Jesus said that to be the first, you must be the last and servant to all. Jesus picked up a child and said that when you welcome such a one as this in My name, you welcome Me. And when you welcome Me, you welcome the One who sent Me. The preacher asked them to consider how they could become servants, and reminded them that when they treat anyone poorly, they are treating a member of God's family poorly. The preacher quoted Chapter 25 of Matthew's gospel, reminding them that what they do to the least of God's people, they do to God.

Communion was served and the congregation was encouraged to take their burdens to the Lord. A time of communal prayer was announced, and the congregation was encouraged to share their praises and concerns.

He raised his hand and haltingly, tearfully, publicly and sincerely asked for her forgiveness. She gave it to him. They embraced. Their dead friendship was resurrected as surely as Jesus on the third day.

I suppose I should mention that He is 89 and she is 87. Most of us write people of that age off as hopelessly entrenched in their ways and unchangeable. But the Ancient of Days sees them as children. I guess it's a matter of perspective.

Most of us who love the Lord and long for His appearing want to see Him move in mighty ways. We want to see mountains moved, seas parted, and the sun standing still in the sky. Personally, I think God finds those kinds of things fairly easy. He wrote the blueprints. He knows where all the tabs fit into all the slots, and where the left-hand threads are.

If we are always looking for those kinds of things, we miss Him doing the really hard stuff—opening an eye, softening a heart, unclenching a fist.

I hope I recognize it when He's doing the hard stuff in me. I'd hate to be caught looking for Him coming in the clouds when He's been standing next to me all along.