Hosanna

by Pastor James Bell

I was young single, and a little confused about the direction my life should take. The emotional roller coaster I had been on had instilled in me a lack of trust as well as a lack of confidence. The highlight of every week for me was a meeting that happened on Thursday nights. It started with a good friend having me over for a time of consoling and encouraging each other. It grew into a small group of friends who would listen to each other speak into each other’s lives. It was a safe place. I loved those times.

“Safe” is more than the absence of fear. It is an atmosphere of acceptance. It’s when you know you can be yourself, and people who care about you will love you unconditionally. it’s where the fun starts. It’s where the life is. It’s where people really, really want to be. Unfortunately, we don’t always know where that place is or how to get there.

For me, I just turned into Deerfield Village and found the house on the corner where we always met. The acceptance was understated, but heartfelt. I always felt like I was home; that these were my brothers and sisters in some strange-but-pleasant way. We sat on the floor and laughed. We stood in the kitchen and shared anecdotes from the crazy past week. We wiped tears and offered prayers. It was a special time of feeling close to people I cared about.

Almost all of us were divorced, lonely and spiritually struggling. It was what we were not, and had not, that brought us together. Then, one by one, we started getting better. Different ones began to marry and fade away into the bliss of what we all wanted. After about a year, there was no group. We all lost touch. Most of those folks I haven’t heard from in a long time.

Several years later, our church relocated here. Suz and I built a house a stone’s throw from the church. We are thankful for busy, fulfilling lives. But every once in a while, I drive through Deerfield and suddenly there it is. The trees are bigger and the flowers are not as plentiful as when the guy who “rescued” me lived there. But it stands there, nonetheless. It almost speaks to me, even preaches to me, reminding me of the importance of unconditional love.

My wish is that you will feel the same way I did back then when you pull into this church. Here’s hoping you will find it to be a safe place. If you have a warm, comfortable feeling about walking through the doors, and look forward to seeing some people you love, and know that Jesus will be here bigger than any problems you might be bringing with you….then I’ll know that a seed has grown mightily since we first walked through the pastures, filled with cattle and pecan trees, that have since become this church.

Jesus said long ago, “I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you.” There are safe places where people care deeply for others and have a passion for Jesus and his teachings. This is one. Welcome to your safe place.

Love (unconditionally),

James

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