Reaching Out

Seminary professor Tom Troeger tells about a childhood game he played when he was in grade school. The game was, “You’re out! You’re out! You can’t come in!” The way the game was played was that half of the children would form a circle. Everyone would face outward and holding hands. The other half of the children would be outside the circle. The children in the circle would chant, “You’re out! You’re out! You can’t come in. You’re out! You’re out! You can’t come in.” And once they had chanted this twice, those on the outside would rush as hard as they could and try to break into the circle. The ones in the circle could only hold hands, they couldn’t lock arms. And the ones who were trying to break in had to get in on the first try, they couldn’t keep pushing.

The Reverend King Duncan picks up on this and writes, “You and I know about that game. We’ve seen it played out all our lives on both a child’s level and on an adult level, and sometimes, Heaven help us, it has been played in the name of Jesus.”

It is interesting to me that Jesus tells us his mission is almost the exact opposite of this game. In Luke, chapter 19:10 Jesus says, “For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the Lost.” And in his ministry, he is ever reaching to the outsiders.

My prayer for you today is that you would make an effort to get to know and welcome people who are outside your normal circles. And as you do, may you find that Christ’s love and grace only grow larger.

Let us pray: Loving God, I pray for your healing grace to rest upon us – especially on those who feel as though they have been left out or marginalized. Help us to build bridges and to share your love with a world desperately in need; in Jesus’ name. Amen.