One Sunday, having waded through a call for volunteers, I said, \u201cYou know, I should probably say this every Sunday, but if you\u2019ve come here this morning feeling brokenhearted or anxious about something, don\u2019t leave without talking to one of the pastors about it. That\u2019s why we have coffee hour\u201d\u201dto get to know each other well enough so that when things fall apart we can share what we\u2019re going through. Talking to you is what we\u2019re here for.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
So I had no one to blame but myself when the first person out the door skipped the pleasantries and came straight out with it. \u201cI get the God part,\u201d\u009d he said; \u201cI just can\u2019t get the Jesus part.\u201d\u009d That was it. No worries about a husband showing signs of dementia, a brother\u2019s divorce, or a whistle-blowing scenario at work. He was saying that the biggest issue in his life\u201d\u201dsomething he was desperate to talk to someone about\u201d\u201dwas . . . God. So I said the first thing that came into my head. \u201cI think Jesus is God saying, \u201d\u02dcI\u2019m not far away and long ago and theoretical; I\u2019m here and now and in your face.\u2019 Do you want a God who\u2019s a nice idea, or a God who\u2019s about everything now and forever?\u201d\u009d He said, \u201cThe everything God.\u201d\u009d I said, \u201cWell then I think you do get the Jesus part.\u201d\u009d Then he left. Maybe I\u2019ll never know if he wanted my answer or would have preferred a listening ear.<\/p>\n
More worshipers came through the line. Then the last person out the door, who\u2019d clearly made sure he was the last person, said (and I\u2019m not making this up), \u201cI get the Jesus part. I just can\u2019t get the God part.\u201d\u009d I was even more dumbfounded than the first time. To meet one person in the heart searchings of faith might be a wonder; to get two made me think that they had a bet and were pulling my leg. But this man was genuine. He had hung back for a real sit-down conversation.<\/p>\n