I usually receive several forwarded emails a week...  Most of them are worth reading; some of them are even worth considering.  I received one from my sister, Joy (Florida), this week ... and actually read it (for a second time) as a part of my devotional time one day. At the risk of you having already heard this one, here it is:

I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with. Her last project of the term was called, 'Smile.'

The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions. I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway. So, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.

Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning. It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son. We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did. I did not move an inch.... An overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved. As I turned around I smelled a horrible 'dirty body' smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men.

As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was 'smiling.' His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance. He said, 'Good day' as he counted the few coins he had been clutching. The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation.

I held my tears as I stood there with them. The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said, 'Coffee is all Miss' because that was all they could afford.. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm).

Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes in the Restaurant were set on me, judging my every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand. He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, 'Thank you.' I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, 'I did not do this for you... God is here working through me to give you hope.'

I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son.. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, 'That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope...' We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give.

We are not church goers, but we are believers.. That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love. I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in 'my project' and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said, 'Can I share this?' I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class. She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and to be healed.

In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my son,the instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student. I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.
 

As I sat there at my dining room table that day reading my Wesley Study Bible, I wondered if the Church would ever learn this lesson ... as well as this un-churched person had. Sometimes, even though we should be well aware of the word of God, we forget that Jesus said (Matthew 8:20, NRSV): "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."  In other words, Jesus was a homeless man, too!  He also said (Matthew 25:40, NRSV), as I pondered this story and its lessons for our lives, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me."  If you remember the Gospel stories, you'll remember who Jesus' mother & brothers are...

Well, it really hit me today: What the Church needs more and more are for people to live their faith beyond Sundays--beyond their weekly habit of worship! I'm very proud of the congregation of Dodgeville United Methodist Church for having the love and compassion of Christ to reach out to those less fortnate in our world--the Cornerstone community in particular.  The old saying 'Ministry can be messy' sure comes to life at those parties (and if you've ever been a part of a ministry that reaches out to the underprivileged, you know what I mean)!  Thank you, God, for the opporutunities you give us to serve YOU ... and that's what we're doing every time we serve 'the least of these.'  For those of you who may have never given it a try before--to put your faith into gear and serve those less fortunate, maybe it's time for you to have breakfast at McDonald's.  I'd just bet that God has an opportunity waiting for you there, too...

On the path together,

Pastor Rom