1975...down by the river....the moon was full and bright....a slight breeze in the air...bonfire burning with wild garlic...keeping mosquiters away mid-flight...
Young people...most of whom...lived in homes of chaos and doom...came to the river and gathered round...searching for a peace that couldn't be found....
Yes, there was reefer madness that night...a toke or two, until around midnight...but no one died...no one yelled...no one attacked...no one failed...
A reading was presented...from the word of God...no pressure to receive...nor accusations of wrong...freewill to choose...they could leave or stay...but all sat in place...listening to the say...
They all felt the presence...of God that night...the power of his Spirit moved through the night...some were changed forever..not just by hearing the sounding of words...they saw someone cared...to listen to their hearts...to feel their hurt.
I was present that night as an observer. I had already been touched by God as a child, but this was the first time, I had ever witnessed someone reach out to others for no other purpose, than caring...no threats of damnation or looking down their noses at them...only offering them a different way to look at and to live in the world...no Bible beating...just opportunity to find more knowledge...of course, there were always the struggles..the temptations...the doubts and fears. They were told, that it's okay to stumble...it's even okay to fall...and if you do fall, not run away from God...but run to Him.
If only the churches could get that mindset into their hearts...allowing people to go thru trials and stumbling without attack, without shunning or whispering behind their backs...but to be there for them..with love and encouragement...allowing for the Holy Spirit to temper and refine.
Unfortunately the churches main concerns seem to be...funding and appearance...and let's see if we can out do the *whatever*church down the road in attendance and functions..you bring the most visitors and you get a prize!!..etc..etc.
WTF are they doing..? It's like a gathering of car salesman...more concerned about the sale than the longterm performance of the product offered. Sell em and forget them!!! If they want maintenance, make em pay for it!!!!
Jesus was railed against for eating with unbelievers...for touching the untouchable....loving the unlovable...forgiving the unforgivable...I myself, still believe, that loving the imperfect is the perfection of love...I just have to remember to apply it every day.
I left that service feeling just as empty as I went in...it all seemed so robotic and commercial...and I just can't seem to find my way back....