Church outside a Vegan Restaurant, Mask Catastrophe Guy and a Montana Girl
Let me set the backdrop to a holy encounter I had today. Rhode Island is the most densely populated
state in the country. (I actually took a deep breath this week as I ran past a
fenced in lot, ground covered in concrete slabs, because it was the first “open”
space I had seen in a few miles.) The
whole state could fit into my county, and has the same population as the entire
state of Montana. Providence is a town
rich in people, diversity, history, catholic churches, very very old churches, think tank universities, donut shops,
foodie restaurants, and art work...everywhere.
Hardwood trees make streets seem even more narrow and shady and their
roots make the sidewalks of centuries old stone or brick anything but flat. “ER’s” are pronounced with “ah’s”. Chowder is “Chowda”, and lobster is
“lobsta”. A predictable grid for streets
is lacking as the town curves around canals and fingers of water from the
bay. This city is delightful and
completely devoid of any cues that seem familiar to this transplanted Montana
country girl.
But, God. God isn’t
different here. And today, right outside
a three story vegan restaurant by the water, this country girl had the most
beautiful encounter with a city guy.
Brad. Brad seemed a bit scattered
and disheveled as he walked up behind me in line while talking on his
phone. He was wearing some type of clam
digger/capri, formerly white, pants,
Loosened dark blue socks or leg warmers rose about 6 inches up from his
ankles; leaving just a bit of his slightly muddy and fully hairy upper calf
exposed. He had a mask on. Well more like a 3 inch strip of material
loosely slung from ear to ear only just covering above the tip of his nose and
slightly below his bottom lip. At first
glance I wanted to back way, way off.
But, I scooted over politely, and asked if he would like to order before
me as I was struggling to make a decision.
As he stepped forward, I took a closer look to see his shirt that read,
“Jesus Christ in Me….the hope of glory.”
Immediately I was ashamed of myself for my harsh initial estimation of
him. Okay, honestly that wasn’t an
immediate conviction (much as I wish it had been); but it quickly followed my
initial thought that he must have gotten his shirt from a donation box. (If you
need to condemn me momentarily, I won’t hold it against you. I obviously have no room to judge anyone
else's inner thought life world; instead proving again and again that I
desperately need Jesus. Every. Single.
Minute.)
He ordered, then gave his name: Brad. I thought Brad, the ‘Mask Catastrophe Guy’,
seemed a bit more fitting. Once done, he
walked over to a shady spot on a flight of stone steps just a bit away from the
counter while he waited. Having finally
made a decision amidst the torrent of internal thought judgements I was
battling, I ordered and followed Brad’s lead; finding a safely distanced spot
opposite him on the stone steps under much needed shade. (Side note-another difference here in the
northeast is that 99 degrees is completely unbearable as the 95% humidity makes
the air about as thick as custard.) As I
sat across from him my curiosity completely overwhelmed me. “Do you go to a church around here?”, I
asked, trying to learn more about this guy who was at this point a fascinating
curiosity to me at the very least. And
then the most fabulous thing happened.
He could barely answer me as his enthusiasm seemed to make his cohesive
thoughts fly around like leaves in the wind.
“Well, I am actually more of a Jesus guy. 100% Jesus guy. And I watch a lot of church online, and
follow some guys from north of Boston. I
mean, I really just, you know, have to have the gospel, like hard core
gospel. The Word, you know? The Word has to be solid, and not watered
down.” The conversation was launched
and there, on cool stone steps on a wicked hot day, in the middle of a city I
love and simultaneously feel super misplaced in, we dove headlong into the
absolute goodness of God. We discussed
the importance of an eternal perspective, seeing this world and life as our
temporary home, the power (KAPOW) of the Holy Spirit within us, and the
authority given to the redeemed for a holy life and godliness. I introduced him to a ministry he hadn’t
heard of that works to serve the growing Church in Iran and the Middle East. We also shared verses from the Word ranging
from Genesis 6 to Ephesians 6, with a sprinkling of Romans and others, and
discussed the beautiful promises of God.
I’m pretty sure he also referenced a bit of Revelations.
The contrast between God’s nature and mine is infinite. He never changes, and yet he continually
changes me. Praise Him! And in this season of “social distancing” I
haven’t been to church in months. Which
is a significant change for me. I have
never missed out on going to church regularly, outside of the time I sat in a
chair broken after our wreck. Which was
another season of tremendous growth through profound disruption. It seems that when God allows distance from
my routines, health, or my dearest friends, He only ever does so as He offers a
greater measure of Himself. He is my COMPLETE sufficiency. He is unchanging. He gives me other people as a bonus in this
life. Brad said it so perfectly today,
“If all I ever have is the Holy Spirit and the Word, He has given me all I need
on the Cross and through Himself . The
rest is a bonus.”
Today was profound and completely unexpected; it was a bonus. I left our little impromptu worship service
singing in my heart. And during COVID I
have had the gift of worship, repeatedly.
Our family has only spent extended amounts of time with our Bozeman
relative in the last 4 months. In those
times together God has been present in our conversations; which have never been
so intense, spiritually uplifting or purposeful. Physically distanced walks, for no more than
an hour or so, with my sisters in Christ have been honest, raw, hopeful and
tearful encouragements in this season.
Kit and I have stood along a fence, physically away from our dear
friends, and had edifying discussions about justice and God’s nature; spending
really only mere moments but building bonds which have begun here and will
carry on into eternity. Each of these
times have been encouraging for me while also being glorifying to God. “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens
another.” Proverbs 27:17. Without God in us, we grate on each other,
and with God we become better and different through interactions with each
other. With God we can “teach and
admonish one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, with thankfulness in our
hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16)
I miss gathering with our dear church family. My life and our family’s community has been
built around meeting together with them for the last 12 years. In this season of separation God has not
allowed me to be without community and He has not allowed adversity without
giving clear access to more of Him.
Today was complete evidence of that.
In a place where I could feel completely alone and displaced I felt at
home, and deeply connected to God through a stranger with whom I spent just under
10 minutes. God offers me (and you) His
presence, through His Spirit; and by His holiness I am continually growing and
changing. I do not need the way things
have always been, I just need the way He has always been: Faithful.
Paul wrote, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be
content. I know how to be brought low,
and I know how to abound. In any and
every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger,
abundance and need. I can do all things
through Him who strengthens me.”
Phillipians 4:11-13 I pray that
you are being ministered to during this time of disruption from “the way it has
always been”. I pray you are ministering
to others from the wellspring that comes from spending time with God. I pray that you can be in a city, 2000 miles
away from home and the comfort you are most familiar with, and feel completely
at home and content while visiting with a stranger, who challenges you. I pray that if you are holding tightly to the
routines you are accustomed to and hoping for them to return, you will let go,
and relax fully into the place God is calling you; even if it is
different. I am convinced that NOTHING
can separate you or me from Him. God
will never change. He will not allow us to remain unchanged.
Will it ever be the same again?
Nope. But God will always be as
He has always been: Faithful.
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