Where two or three are gathered together...

“The kingdom of God is wherever you find the people of God.” I used to watch the little old ladies taking notes at Crescent Hill Baptist during John Claypool’s sermons. Now I am an old lady taking notes. Yesterday Pastor Pat had a phrase that caught my soul’s ear and I have listening to these words trying to remember the kingdom of God’s appearance in my life these past weeks. Last night God was present at my kitchen table as we shared tomato soup and cheese toast with David, Dianne and Tracy. Friday night, my kitchen table was surrounded by more kingdom kin as Sherry cooked for us. Friday morning, the God of Creation was with Leisa and me as we took a plein air painting class. Standing in a pocket park, surveying the spring beauty surrounding us, trying to translate that beauty to our canvas, God was present in the laughter and groans as we soared and sailed through the application of paint to ourselves and the canvas. The kingdom of God was present at Room in the Inn, a traveling shelter for homeless women, last week. Leisa and I took card making supplies to the church, helped women make and mail cards to loved ones. I sat at the piano and began to play some old standards. A young woman came to stand by me, her eyes red from weeping. “Do you know ‘Eidelweiss’?” she asked. As I played, she sang. We talked a little. She was a trained singer, just separated from her husband and on the street for the first time in her life. God was there with us in that holy moment. Every time I worship, wherever I worship, however I worship, God sneaks in and surprises me through children singing or a hug from Miss Mamie or a word from God through the voice of Pastor Pat. God shows up and my heart leaps in joy. Sometimes folks have said to me “It is so good of you to be a part of that church” as if I were doing a good deed. The truth of the matter is I am needed and I am loved. God is in my presence there and God is in the people who are members of this particular part of the kingdom. I am the one both blessed and blessing. Perhaps that is the secret to the presence of the kingdom of God... blessers and blessees part and parcel of the body of Christ. We play Musical Chairs passing around the seat at the head of the table making sure everyone has a turn., share and share alike. My mother tells the story of being so frustrated with me as a little child because I seemed to have no sense of self protection. The neighbor boy would take my toys and I would never protest, just hand them over with a smile. Some worry about my sense of naivete and innocence leading to my being hurt. I plead guilty on all counts but it is the way I am hardwired. As the old hymn says... Make me a blessing... and let me be blessed as I stand in the midst of the kingdom of God all the days of my life.