Me? I was amused by the extra flashes of bright clothing and shoes. You can tell who got something new for Christmas by the pop of color. The familiar gym rats had an item or two, like a new neon top or bright shiny shoes. The new people had more complete brand-new outfits that matched better. At least for now. Working out will break the clothes in, and in time, folks will be hard to tell apart.
I like the way all sorts of people are exercising, from the young athletes on winter break to the older folks keeping their joints limber and their cardiovascular systems healthy and their minds clear. Some are habitual attenders with long years of keeping active and working out. Some are obviously just starting with their new routines, either because they are newly concerned about their health or newly resolving to develop healthy habits. A nice percentage are people keeping someone else company as they begin a new discipline; it’s good to have moral support from friends or family.
I noticed a handful of people standing, puzzled, in front of some of the machines. If you aren’t used to them, the racks of weights are intimidating, and the various clanking machines with all sorts of knobs and adjustments and levers and arms and all are kinda scary. But if you really want to see confusion, watch a new person try to figure out one of the computerized ellipticals, arc-trainers, stationary bikes, or treadmills. You see people standing helplessly in front of the screen with twenty-five pre-programmed exercises trying to figure out how to make it just “walk.”
Mercifully, for every one person grumping about someone using “my” machine, there are several kind souls who lean over, help the newbies pick the right buttons or give some advice about the best way to lift or stretch. They want the new exercisers to settle in and benefit for the rest of their lives.
Church can be like that, too. Christmas brings a lot of first-time attenders to the typical church, with their own expectations and anticipations, but also with their worries and lack of familiarity. Studies actually confirm that many people fear messing up in a church service. When do they stand up or sit down? Oh no, they have two hymnals, which one is the next hymn in? What do I say during that passing the peace thing? How does that bulletin thing mean? From the front where I stand, I can see that same deer-in-the-headlights look in first-time worship attenders as those baffled by the dashboard of the treadmill. And, in some churches I’ve also seen grumpy faces of long-time members that somebody is sitting in their pew. Why, those new people don’t know how it is done properly! They don’t know the old hymns! Kind of like the gym rats complaining about the newbies.
But even the old hands usually come around and become welcoming to the new folks trying to find their way. The common cause becomes clearer, the familiarity grows, the conversations start, the relationships develop, and distinctions disappear. The newer folks share different things that the long time folks learn to love, too. Everyone gets into shape… physical or spiritual. Soon, it gets hard to tell who’s been around for how long; everyone knows everyone else at the gym… at church.
Like New Year’s resolutions bring people to the gym, Christmas Eve brings people to church. They sense that there is something important to be found in the community of faith gathered around the gospel of God’s love in Christ Jesus. They come with hope and expectations, but they also come with uncertainty. It’s our job to smile and reach out and show them that no matter where they are on their journey, they are welcome among us. That’s a good resolution for our new year. So be one of those people who helps out the new ones. And God willing, they’ll be going strong at Easter!
In Christ,
David
Texts For Sunday Worship:
From the Hebrew Bible Genesis 1:1-5
From the Epistles Acts 19:1-7
From the Gospels Mark 1:4-11
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