The little girl, only six years old, was in awe at the number of people who attended the ceremony as her mother remarried. Since the accidental death of her father three years earlier, the little girl and her mother had struggled. Her mother’s family was quite small, her mother an only child. Few relatives lived close by and the emotional support system was limited. Her new father’s family was quite large–lots of brothers and sisters who were now her uncles and aunts (as it was explained to her). She could not quite believe the good fortune of having such a large family with so many people to whom she was now connected as family. As a result, she spent most of the evening going from person to person asking, “Are you part of my new family?” Family gives identity; she was seeking identity.
Today, Jan and I will worship with a part of God’s family we have never met. They will help us know who we are. They will give us a fresh perspective on our identity. They will in small unseen ways mold us and make us. In a world where many Christians choose not to assemble with the church when they are on vacation, traveling, or away from home, we are looking forward to meeting new people who are part of our spiritual family. Perhaps this is something of what Jesus had in mind when he said, “Except you become as little children, you cannot be part of the kingdom.” The innocence of children, the joy at new experiences, the willingness and excitement at meeting new people–how refreshing! A favorite song says it: We’re part of the family. That family does not stop at the borders of the local congregation–that family extends around the world. Why would anyone not want to meet and know and spend time with the members of that family?
One of the things I see frequently in mission travels is the joy that our brothers and sisters in small congregations in isolated parts of Latin America feel as they thrill to hear the stories and know the reality of a grand spiritual family that exists around the world. We rejoice to be with our “forever family.” I hope you get to be with your “forever family” in worship today. Even though I do not know many of my readers personally, I hope you are not intentionally absent from your “forever family” today. Why? Because you are part of the family!