Here we are again. Another Lent. Another wilderness wandering. Another start to reflecting on the world via my very sporadic writings. It seems Lent has been the time I feel most compelled to write. Perhaps because of the introspective nature of the season. Maybe it’s just the experience of taking the United Methodist Photo-A-Day challenge and turning it into a post. All I know is here we are again and here I go again.
Day 11: Present
Confession…I do not mind people bringing food and drinks into the worship space.
If bringing in your coffee helps you enter into a time of worship, please do so. If that treat we provided out in the foyer comes in with you, that should be expected, right? After all, we gather each week to share the meal we call Communion, The Lord’s Supper, The Eucharist. And don’t we say that meal is meant to be celebrated as we enjoy every other meal?
Besides, I am hopeful we desire to set aside any barriers that would make it harder for you to be present. If that means adding a little caffeine to the morning routine, again, I am all for it.
With that said, as I am often one of the ones tidying up on a Monday morning, I sometimes find evidence of your presence. A present reminding me you were present. Now, some might use this as another reason why we don’t want food and beverages brought into worship. Sometimes, a cup or a can or a wrapper gets left behind for someone else to pick up.
Isn’t picking up a few items of trash worth it though?
Alternatively, we could insist you keep all that stuff out of the sanctuary. I used to serve a church that had brass signage installed just inside every door into the sanctuary stating this very thing. NO FOOD OR DRINK IN THE SANCTUARY. We were otherwise so hospitable. These signs always seemed out of place to me. To repeat myself, don’t we want people to feel they belong? Don’t we want folks to “come as you are?” Don’t we say God loves you no matter what? So, why would we go out of our way to make such prohibitions as to what comes into the sacred space with us?
That’s probably the answer, isn’t it? Somewhere along the line someone decided holy, sacred space was meant to be clean and tidy and without the inevitable spills and stains that come with allowing people to eat and drink together. Never mind the juice spills from communion or the wax drips from the candlelight Christmas or the pen marks on the pews/chairs. Never mind, Jesus never asked us to sanitize our worship spaces or our lives.
Be present. That’s the invitation. Even as God is present. Show up and offer your whole self to God. I’d prefer you not leave presents for me or others to pick up after you, but I prefer it much more than you not being present at all.
So, dear Alani drinker who finished your can and set it down under the pew. You forgot to take it with you and place it in the bin to be recycled. Don’t worry. We took care of it. Keep coming back. And if you leave another can for us, another present for us to clean up, you know what? We’ll do it and we’ll give thanks for the opportunity to do so, because it means you were with us.
Life is better together,
Shawn
Big Rubber Band Ball 