This column previously appeared in the February 21, 2018 edition
Well, two weekends ago I was in the surf on Tybee and this past weekend, I found myself on my annual retreat with friends in the North Georgia mountains. The usual cast of characters were there …. Cat Woman, Blind Flute Player, the Nurturer, the Park Ranger, and a new brave soul, the Tutor. So, for two weekends, I’ve been traveling the highways of Georgia for various and sundry things.
As much as I enjoy going to Tybee Island and the Bar Church, I felt slightly disjointed this time. I couldn’t settle down and enjoy the condo, the restaurants, or the Mardi Gras parade. The Bar Church was good fellowship and God’s presence was definitely present, especially during Communion, and all became more peaceful. The music was uplifting and one of the Church founders was there playing his harmonica on his regular stool in the corner by the coffee pot.
I was home for a couple days and then left to come up to the mountains to an amazing retreat center just outside of Helen, GA. We reconnected with several former church members who now live here and spent time during the evening in devotion, then rather vicious games of Mexican Train.
As I’ve written before, these are all close friends who pretty well have seen the best (and the worst) of each other. And, as usual, Blind Flute Player has all her technology humming in various plugs around the living room; Cat Woman is in front of the fire wrapped up in a blanket reading a book whilst humming show tunes; Tutor is similarly occupied with her book, this time a fiction novel instead of academic textbooks; Park Ranger is pacing looking out windows waiting for the rain to let up so she can head out on a hike somewhere; and Nurturer is, well, nurturing.
All the snacks are organized in order and she makes sure all the bowls of candy stay refilled. She’s already offered all manner of medical attention for cuts and bruises, poured out hugs and “bless your hearts” to anyone we come across. Hence, the Nurturer. Unfortunately, Nurturer had a wardrobe malfunction one night here, but handled it with great composure while I quickly scurried off to my room.
The reason I share all these stories with you is because while we are all very, very different people (retreat and Bar Church) with very, very different personalities and lives, the common denominator that binds us all together is our relationship with God and His Son, Jesus Christ. We have the same faith, the same belief system, the same priority to live our lives for God, and be an example to the world around us. We are all either retired or about to retire from school systems, the corporate world, government public service, and church ministry.
All of you have jobs or some influence in some area of society. Maybe if all the Christians (me, definitely included) could make the conscious effort to live and influence all those we come in contact with for Christ and how God wants us to live, I promise and guarantee that this world can be changed. For the better. With Love. Love for all people, races, creeds, religions, no religion, lifestyles different from our own … just Love them and not condemn them. Don’t engage in antagonism because you don’t agree, or you don’t think God approves. It’s not our job to determine God’s favor on other people. Just to Love them.
That’s why I spend so much time with my quirky groups of friends. We love each other in the Lord and do our best to honor Him when we are together and when apart. I challenge you to do the same. This world needs it. Desperately. Love And for today my friends, this has been the gospel according to Jimmy.
