“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” – John 15:13
There I sat. The new Director of Student Ministries at First Presbyterian Church of Wilmette. It was my first week and I was excited about my new work. The community seemed excited, too. We just weren’t quite sure where my office would be! So, there I sat, working at table in Rev. Raska’s office while we sorted out office space.
As we talked through a variety of responsibilities and possibilities, Rev. Raska said she would be attending a meeting the following week in Rogers Park, and I was welcome to join her. Never one to turn down an adventure, I said, “Sure, I’d be glad to come along!”
A week later, there we sat, in a medium-sized multi-purpose room at the Jonquil Hotel, an SRO operated by Good News Partners, listening to partnership opportunities. Between the text messages popping up on his phone, James, a community member and part-time employee of GNP, shared about new ministries he was doing in the neighborhood. He seemed quite distracted. A bit unprofessional, I thought. Eventually, and still in the middle of business, James excused himself. I was a bit surprised.
It turns out there had been a shooting in the neighborhood. James, among many other roles he filled in the community, had become a guide, mentor, and mediator within the neighborhood. He left our meeting in hopes of quelling a possible retaliation. Violence in return for violence. Thankfully, he was successful.
Some years have passed. James is now the Director of his own nonprofit, C24/7, and a good friend, dare I say brother. Rev. Raska is now Erin, Senior Minister at GUC, and my dear friend and colleague. And numerous lives have been changed, possibly saved, because James, and others like him, choose to lay down their life for another, figuratively and, quite possibly one day, literally.
Why?
James’ story is his to tell. But from my vantage point, the answer is this… freedom. One thing I know for certain about my friend, my brother in Christ, James, is that he is certain that Christ welcomed him with open arms. That Christ celebrated his return. And James now lives into the freedom that God has offered through Jesus Christ because he is also confident that Christ is waiting to welcome all with open arms.
Last Sunday, Erin shared the story of the Prodigal Son. Some days we’re the older brother. Some days, the younger. Most days we’re a bit of each. Every day we are received with open arms by the God who frees us all. Frees us to live for God and for our neighbor.
How will you live into your freedom today?
-Pastor Ken