Pastor's Paragraphs | February 18, 2022
"Go down Church Street, it's faster."
This is the wisdom that was shared with me not long after we moved to Benson in 2019. Back then, someone was trying to tell me the quickest way from Interstate 95 to the church campus. Many times since, as I've pulled off of 95 and turned right to head toward town, I've thought of merging right to turn at Burger King and head the "back way" toward Church Street.
While I know it might be quicker, I hardly ever merge right. I instead stay in the left lane so that I can drive through town: past the Singing Grove where I had my first taste of "The Sing" in 2021, past Medlin and Dorman where I bought Kennedy's little red doll wagon, past Jenny's where I've bought more than enough sugar to keep my dentist busy (also on Main Street... thanks, Dr. Barnes!), past Morgan's on Main where two of my office chairs came from, past Edmond's/Libby's where we rented Jack's tuxedo for prom last year (did he return all the cufflinks? Who knows?), past Cornerstone Cafe where I've gotten many an afternoon caffeine fix, past the library where I've paid a few too many fines (the results of a love of books and a busy schedule), past Salvaged Heirlooms where my kids have played too many games of music bingo to count...
As I drive past all of these places, mostly unfamiliar to me just two years ago, I realize that there will not be many times where I'll merge right because, really, I love driving through this town we call home. Sure, Benson is small and no, it's not perfect, but it is still just a Christmas-tree stand short of a Hallmark movie and I love every bit of it.
As we all live and worship in this quaint little space we call home I realize that there is a question before us. It is a question that Jesus heard from the lips of a lawyer in the first century. "Who is my neighbor?"
The answer for that lawyer was hard to face. For us it is a little easier –– though not much. Our neighbors are all around us in this town. They live on both sides of Main Street. They live in big houses, and government-funded apartments. They eat at Chargrill and they stop by Cornerstone. They are young and they are old.
Our neighbors are all around us and the question that our church has always had before it still remains: how do we love our neighbors well?
As we continue in our 135th year, I believe we have much to celebrate in answer to this question. Throughout our history we have been a congregation that has loved through giving and serving. We have been a presence that has supported and loved through our missions and ministries.
As we move forward, and as our little community gets bigger and bigger, I believe our call from Christ to love our neighbor only grows with it. The gospel of Jesus is a living, breathing, and action-oriented message. It is one that does not change, but remains steady and sure in an ever-changing world.
That said, the world is different than it was. As we seek to love our neighbors moving forward, I wonder what God will call us to do, or change, to be able to share the never-ending gospel of Jesus through our words, worship, and actions.
The path ahead will not be easy, but we are called to change our community –– even as it changes around us. May we rise to the challenge as we love our neighbors deeply –– just like Jesus does.
This is the wisdom that was shared with me not long after we moved to Benson in 2019. Back then, someone was trying to tell me the quickest way from Interstate 95 to the church campus. Many times since, as I've pulled off of 95 and turned right to head toward town, I've thought of merging right to turn at Burger King and head the "back way" toward Church Street.
While I know it might be quicker, I hardly ever merge right. I instead stay in the left lane so that I can drive through town: past the Singing Grove where I had my first taste of "The Sing" in 2021, past Medlin and Dorman where I bought Kennedy's little red doll wagon, past Jenny's where I've bought more than enough sugar to keep my dentist busy (also on Main Street... thanks, Dr. Barnes!), past Morgan's on Main where two of my office chairs came from, past Edmond's/Libby's where we rented Jack's tuxedo for prom last year (did he return all the cufflinks? Who knows?), past Cornerstone Cafe where I've gotten many an afternoon caffeine fix, past the library where I've paid a few too many fines (the results of a love of books and a busy schedule), past Salvaged Heirlooms where my kids have played too many games of music bingo to count...
As I drive past all of these places, mostly unfamiliar to me just two years ago, I realize that there will not be many times where I'll merge right because, really, I love driving through this town we call home. Sure, Benson is small and no, it's not perfect, but it is still just a Christmas-tree stand short of a Hallmark movie and I love every bit of it.
As we all live and worship in this quaint little space we call home I realize that there is a question before us. It is a question that Jesus heard from the lips of a lawyer in the first century. "Who is my neighbor?"
The answer for that lawyer was hard to face. For us it is a little easier –– though not much. Our neighbors are all around us in this town. They live on both sides of Main Street. They live in big houses, and government-funded apartments. They eat at Chargrill and they stop by Cornerstone. They are young and they are old.
Our neighbors are all around us and the question that our church has always had before it still remains: how do we love our neighbors well?
As we continue in our 135th year, I believe we have much to celebrate in answer to this question. Throughout our history we have been a congregation that has loved through giving and serving. We have been a presence that has supported and loved through our missions and ministries.
As we move forward, and as our little community gets bigger and bigger, I believe our call from Christ to love our neighbor only grows with it. The gospel of Jesus is a living, breathing, and action-oriented message. It is one that does not change, but remains steady and sure in an ever-changing world.
That said, the world is different than it was. As we seek to love our neighbors moving forward, I wonder what God will call us to do, or change, to be able to share the never-ending gospel of Jesus through our words, worship, and actions.
The path ahead will not be easy, but we are called to change our community –– even as it changes around us. May we rise to the challenge as we love our neighbors deeply –– just like Jesus does.
Posted in pastorsparagraphs
4 Comments
I love riding down Main Street. I enjoy the ride for its current appeal and for the memories those buildings hold for me: Roses’s Dime, Dixon’s, Neta’s, Curwell Beauty Shop, Benson Drug, the Princess Theatre on the left; Creech’s Barber Shop, Woodall’s, Abdalla’s First Citizens Bank, E. A. Johnson’s Jeweler’s on the right.
Change happens and is necessary. The importance of loving one’s neighbor never does. Benson is a wonder place to live.
I've heard about some of these businesses and wish I could have experienced them! I am thankful that, even though the stores have changed, there is still a vibrancy to our town!
- Lawrence
I rarely merge right by Burger King either. You know you’ve come home when you ride down Main St. Thank you for sharing your message of loving our neighbors, no matter our differences or the neighborhood they live in. Your message reminds me of our Founders Day message.
Dr. Laymon's question –– "what is our brand?" –– is a good one to ponder as we reflect on our call to share the gospel of Christ in the community around us. Jesus calls us to "go" to be people in whom others see and experience him. It is both a challenge and an honor, to be asked to partner in this world-changing mission!