Confessions of a Kansas City Pastor: April 2009

When I first found Chaco, or he found me actually, there was a lot of work to do. He was afraid of men in particular, people in general, hungry, and quite thin. Over the next few years, Chaco learned how to trust people, love attention, and to trick me and others into second breakfasts and third dinners. It has been difficult since he died to remember all the work we did together to get to that happy place. I keep yearning for that happy dog that didn’t need a leash and waited patiently by the treat bin until he got his treat from coming inside.

With the introduction of Lily into our lives, I am, however, experiencing again all that work of rehabilitating a dog who was neglected, beaten, and who knows what else. She is making great strides and cannot get enough of cuddle time with Nick and me. One of her favorite places to be is on the back of the couch, like a cat, with her head hanging over my shoulder. I anticipate the day where she makes the kind of improvements that Chaco did. It will take time, patience, and love. Nick and I are ready for it.

(It may not be fair to compare human interaction with my experience of rehabilitating Chaco and Lily. But, it’s my strongest frame of reference. So, here I go.)

On any given Sunday, there are lots of people who believe in God or wonder about faith and do not make it to a worship service. Many church folks make judgments about why these people don’t come: they’re lazy, they don’t have the right priorities, they just don’t care. In fact, most of my life, I’ve heard these things repeated at different churches. What I have come to realize lately is that the majority of people who don’t come to church even though they might want to have really good reasons: a week long of working a job that sucks the life out of you can keep you from doing the very things that give life, many worship services and churches lack relevancy and then show resentment to those who only come every once in a while, and other circumstances that keep people from attending church.

One of the reasons I feel called to start this new church is because I want to create a place with others that refuses to judge others (or at least do the very best we can to resist), that understands that each person’s spiritual journey is their own journey (God is more creatively reaching out to people than conventional means), and that always encounters people with love and patience. In the same way that I am not sure what happened to Lily and Chaco (and our other rescue Lucy) before we ever saw them, I cannot know the previous experiences of those who I first meet. When my and other people’s, first reaction is assumptions, we limit all that God is doing in the moment.

One of the biggest Christian days of the year, Easter Sunday is over, but the message of that day… resurrection and renewal, are not over. God is always providing opportunity to become. I hope I continue to become the kind of person (and pastor) that always encounters people with grace and patience and love; that when someone leaves my presence –or my church—they have found a place free of pre-existent expectations or judgment. What expectations or judgments keep you from all that God is doing? How can you learn to encounter others with grace and love whether they believe like you or show up every Sunday?

And, because I am an obnoxious dog owner, here are come pics to enjoy...