A tale of two missions

“Please don’t notice me! Please don’t notice me! Please don’t notice me!” you fervently pray from your pew when John walks into the church sanctuary.

John is a little odd. He looks odd. He smells a little odd. He acts a little odd. And he talks a lot. About odd things.

For some reason, John likes talking to you.

“Joe!”

He calls out your name, and inwardly you cringe.

Then you put on your fake smile and respond.

John comes over and shakes your hand like you’re his best friend. He then launches into 15 minutes of the oddest conversation you’ve had all week. You occasionally nod your head and make noises like “Oh?” and “Ah!” as you feign interest.

You’re finally saved by the start of the service. John thought the last 15 minutes spent with you was some of the best minutes he’s had all week; you’re relieved to be rescued from him. When the service is done, you make sure you’re out the front doors before John can find you again …

We all known a John, that odd person no one at church (or anywhere else) wants to interact with.

We also all know a Joe. In fact, we likely would identify ourselves as another Joe. Joe is the person who thinks of himself as a cool guy who has his act together, a Christian, a nice guy, and reasonably caring. But …

… when Joe goes to church, he talks to the same people every week, the ones he considers his
“church friends” (even though he rarely interacts with any of them during the week). He occasionally says hello to other normal looking and acting people …

… when Joe goes to work, he talks to the same people every week, the ones he considers his “work friends” (even though he has no interaction with any of them outside the office). He occasionally says hello to other normal looking and acting people …

… when Joe goes out socially, he goes with the same people every time, the ones he considers his “real friends” (even though he doesn’t know the names of their children). He occasionally says hello to other normal looking and acting people …

Joe thinks he has his act together, thinks he’s cool, and thinks he’s faithful. But Joe lives a closed life. Rarely does he extend his life in any way to anyone beyond the stereotype of the person he considers to be safe enough, normal enough, and unintrusive enough to risk a hello to. If Joe has any interest in interacting with you, he will initiate. Otherwise, Joe’s life revolves around the same safe and shallow interactions with the same people every week.

That’s the average Joe.

John is different. He’s a grown man but still retains an almost childlike wonder about life. John loves people and delights in interacting with any form of humanity. John can have a conversation with anyone, and be thoroughly engrossed in what they have to say. He could even talk and play with a child for hours. John is especially drawn to people who don’t stand out, who seem to be alone or ignored …

… when John goes to church, he says hello to everyone he doesn’t know first. He acts as if he’s delighted and privileged to meet these new people attending service, because he really thinks he is …

… when John goes to work, he seeks out the funky looking new hire in the far back cubicle, welcomes them to his work family, and has lunch with the newbie …

… when John goes out socially, he often goes alone and makes new friends where he’s at …

John is a humble guy. He doesn’t think he’s very cool, thinks he has a lot to learn, and strives to be faithful. John lives an open life. He extends his life to everyone he can. He risks being considered odd in order to make friends and find opportunities to love and serve others. John takes an interest in anyone who crosses his path and hopes they will respond to his initiating a conversation.

Both of these men are on mission.

One is a mission to live a comfortable life others don’t intrude on or mess up. The other, to gently intrude into the life of others to know, love, and serve them.

One is the mission of the average Joe. The other, the mission of Jesus Christ, as carried out by those the world sees as odd, kind of like John.

Which mission are you on?

Scotty