Running from God

It's Sunday so of course I have to bring God into the discussion. Actually, I don't really HAVE to, but sometimes it happens. Actually, it's not me who is running from God. I have a parishioner who called me after church and wanted to talk to me about something. Actually, this parishioner is one of my deacons and has been amazing with my old people -- visiting them and driving them wherever they need to go. It's been wonderful. Well, one of my other deacons GAVE his old car to a young man who has been attending our church with his father (long story, father adopted him around the age of 11 and he had been in foster care before that. The kid has also been in jail once for breaking into a store when he was drunk and this happened not too long ago. Anyway, he's a pretty good kid, just made some bad choices along the way. The kid needed some money to pay for tax, title, and insurance so church members have been letting him do some work for them. Cutting down a branch here -- $10. Helping someone with their garden -- $30. Etc.

So this kid may need a ride in the near future to go pick up his new car. I asked my deacon if he would make himself available to drive him. Today he called and said he wasn't comfortable with this kid. And he asked if that made him a bad deacond. I never answered his question directly. I wanted to yell out, "YES it does! This is your job -- young person or old person, felon or peaceloving, this is your job!" But I remembered that when I point fingers at him I'd also be pointing fingers back at myself. I'm perfectly comfortable with this kid (though I wouldn't go alone because of the whole 'Don't visit a male by yourself' thing which I tend to follow most of the time.) And I would gladly drive him to pick up his car. But what is it about teenagers and young adults that bug the older people? I titled my post "running from God" because I think that's exactly what we do when we ostracize anyone from our care. I've got church members who are difficult, but I don't feel right in running from them. I've got other church members who are young, some who aren't sure they believe, others who are crotchety, but I believe that they are all children of God. Maybe it comes down to understanding what each of our callings are. I LOVE working with children and youth. But my deacon prefers working with the elderly. I guess the body of Christ needs both the left and the right hands to accomplish its work. I'm not even going to say which hand I am.

Peace of Christ be with you.