Confessions of a First Semester Theology Student:

Our house church works on a four week rotation. One week of family dinner, two weeks of Bible study, and one week of going out and serving. Tonight was a night of serving, as usual we bought a crap-ton of pizza and walked around downtown, finding people to share it with. 

But tonight, I didn’t want to go. As a testament to my brokenness, I openly admit that I just wanted to stay in and watch Netflix. Tonight, I would have rather watched several mindless hours of How I Met Your Mother than love people. 

I really did not want to tell people they’re special. That they are loved. That their stories deserve to be heard. And for what little it’s worth, that they deserve a simple slice of pizza. 

But with reluctance, I went. And my heart was still hard, as made evident by my frustration with the awkward silences of folks who didn’t want to talk. By the way I struggled to make eye contact with the man who’s teeth were rotted by meth use. 

Randy is an icon of God. 

And then there was Teresa. I’ve met Teresa on the streets now three times. Sitting on the same stoop on Broadway. In the same Army jacket. With her hair bunched in the same beanie. She doesn’t remember me. But I can’t forget her beautiful eyes. Her sweet smile and demeanor. How she lights up when we offer her pizza and ask her questions. 

Teresa is an icon of God. 

Down the road we met James Patrick and Cowboy. Everyone likes pizza but for Jamie and Cowboy it was cause for jubilee. They lifted their hands in excitement. Brought us in for hugs. Cowboy proceeded to play “I’ll Fly Away” on his guitar and we joined in song with him. It was worship. We broke bread - pizza - and prayed and shared our stories. It was Eucharist. We made a dirty joke when Cowboy’s G-String broke. It was fellowship. It was church on the corner of Broadway and 3rd. 

Jamie and Cowboy are icons of God.

God has a way of working on us. A way of reminding us who He is and who we are. God has a way of speaking through people and pizza and impromptu church services outside a honky-tonk bar. 

Notes:

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   Another post by Chet...appreciate so much. Reminding me

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