Strands of DNA ~ from Don Nations

 

 

I just returned from a trip to Nashville.  On the day I flew in, I had dinner and attended a meeting.  Now I was ready to eat the bag of microwave popcorn I had brought with me and get ready for bed.  Upon discovering that the room did not have a microwave, I called the front desk.  The lady answering the phone explained that they did not have any more microwaves and that there was no public microwave.  I was disappointed.  And then she did it...she offered to let me use the microwave in the employee workroom!  She went out of her way to make me a satisfied guest.

 

Does your church go out of its way for guests?  Do you have signs pointing the way to restrooms, copies of nursery policies for those leaving their children for the first time, a page on the website designed just for guests, a special gift for guests and a facility that shouts "we have been expecting you!"?  Sometimes the little things are the most memorable.  Visitors have to fit into our way of doing things but we go out of our way for guests.

 

The church my family attends hosted a free drive-in movie on Friday of Easter weekend.  Over 1200 people attended the event.  My wife and I volunteered to help and were assigned to wave at the people in the cars as they drove along the road toward the parking area.  When people saw us waving, almost all of them smiled and waved back.  The children in the cars had the best expressions - it was as if they thought we were simply there to greet them.  They waved enthusiastically and grinned from ear to ear.

 

Two days later on Easter morning, we were serving in the Connections area in the lobby.  The place was packed and there were a lot of first time guests.  In the midst of that crowd we encountered people who said with a smile "you waved at us Friday night!"  Never underestimate the power of something as simple as waving, smiling, and just being nice.  Anyone can do this in any size church.  Be real, be human and be honest.  Connect with people, including those who are not your close friends.  What simple thing can you do today to extend God's grace to someone else?