The Visitor

Once a month we host a gathering called "Dinner and a Movie" in the church lounge. When we opened the doors last Friday, a man I'll call Bob came in. He asked to use the phone. Then he stopped to talk with me. Here's what he said.

"Thank you for letting me in and for allowing me to use your phone. I needed to call my dad. I've been homeless for the last few months, and I know I don't look or smell so good. I find in so many places, people don't even want to talk to me. Churches turn me away. One church even told me I should go out on the street and ask people to give me money. I told them that was illegal. Then I asked them if they would give me money, and they said no."

I invited Bob to eat with us, since we had sub sandwiches, chips and brownies for the movie night. He got himself a plate, sat down and started watching the movie with us. It was called "The Visitor." Hmmmmm...

At 7 pm, Bob came to me and explained that he would have to leave, so that he could get a place to sleep that night at the church that was hosting PADS.

"If I come back later, could I watch the end of the movie with all of you? This is such a great thing. I'd love to be part of it. You have such a nice community here, and it looks like a good movie too."

The movie is about a man named Walter who is a college professor in Connecticut, recently widowed. He is just going through the motions, a dead man walking. He gets no enjoyment in life, and he has no compassion for others. In the story, he goes to visit his apartment in New York City. He hasn't been there for months, due to his wife's death.

When he opens the door, he discovers a couple of immigrants from Syria and Senegal are living there. The landlord has sublet Walter's place without letting him know. But instead of kicking them out, Walter allows them to stay there for awhile. He becomes friends with them, and they introduce him to the joys of the city. Tarek teaches him to play the jembe, and they join a few drum circles. Walter returns to himself and experiences a genuine resurrection.

It made me wonder about how we treat visitors. It made me think of the verse from Hebrews 13:2 -- Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.

Having Bob visit that night reminded me to give thanks for this faith community. Because the church is truly the only place in the world where everyone is welcome. Sometimes it takes a visitor to help us remember why we're here.