"Down by the Bay"

There is nothing quite like walking to church on a crisp, sunny morning in Edinburgh while following behind a "wee" red-headed Scottish girl (in pigtails, no less) singing for all the world to hear, "Down by the Bay, where the 'oak trees' grow..."  I guess she made up her own version, or maybe they sing it a bit differently here.  Either way, Kirk and I just loved watching this girl, because even when she noticed that we were listening, she turned back around and kept on going.  I loved how carefree and confident she was!  That's a great start to a day, if you ask me!

I really enjoyed church today!  It is always great, because the people are so welcoming, but today was especially wonderful because of what I learned.  Our new friend Gordon spoke about welcoming "outsiders" to the feast/banquet (from a parable in Luke 14), and a couple of points he made truly struck a chord in me.  He referred to the phrase, "hurt people hurt people", which is such a true statement, but he challenged us to allow the Lord and this passage to guide us to live by a twist on that: "welcomed people welcome people" and "forgiven people forgive people".  Those thoughts resonate with me, because Kirk and I are training for ministry, and the concept of opening our home and our lives so that others are included is essential if we want others to see a picture of how Jesus would interact with them. 

So often we find ourselves wanting to interact only with those who are similar to us, because it's is comfortable or less of a hassle, but I guess that's not our full potential or responsibility as believers, is it?  I was challenged this morning, because I am the kind of person that seeks out relationships that tend to have some sort of common ground, but I know that the Holy Spirit is guiding me to open myself to other possibilities.  This means I have to let go and give God my plans and expectations of who my "friends" will be, which I'm not always keen to do.  We have been given such a gift in having an invitation to enjoy friendship and community with God, and so out of that, we are invited to extend this joy to anyone and everyone.  It's just not always easy.

I'm thankful for this afternoon, because I have been able to sit and think on this truth while Micah kicks and plays on her mat.  As much as I love community, today has been a day to sit inside, watch the rain start to pour, drink tea, and listen to John Coltrane's version of "My Favorite Things". 

Kirk went to his first rugby game ever with some friends from school.  He was excited to see the match-up between Scotland and South Africa- I bet it's a messy, intense game, because it is now a stereotypical wet Scottish afternoon.  I'm looking forward to hearing the highlights.  I'm hoping he is enjoying the game as most do, with a pint in hand :) ha!

To sum it up, a little musical, Scottish redhead singing at the top of her lungs, a great message (thanks, Gordon), tea, and rugby have made for a great day on all accounts!

Luke 14:12-14

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Parable of the Great Banquet

¹² He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. ¹³ But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, ¹⁴ and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

"Down By the Bay":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIlMyNXmfcM 

"My Favorite Things":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWG2dsXV5HI