Cleaning house, Broadway and Church

The back stories…
My wife recently visited NYC for a 4 day trip with a good friend.  Shae had a blast.  While she was there she went to two Broadway shows (Shrek and Bye,Bye Birdie). She said it was an amazing experience.  Lots of flash and dash.

The day after she came back we had a meeting with our parenting class that meets in a home.  Our hosts live in a beautiful home on the marsh and water and have a very well kept but also very comfortable feeling home.  They have five children with a 6th on the way so it feels like a family home.  Its great.  There may be an art project out that is drying from the day and although it is very clean and put together it is not one of those homes where you are afraid to sit on the couch because you may mess up the couch.  No flash and dash, but great.

Then we attended a weekend at Seacoast.  Martin Chalk has a way of making you feel at home.  He has the talent of a rockstar and the persona of  a guy who is just humbled to be able to be on the stage.  In his normal unassuming way Pastor Greg  makes everyone feel like he is sitting in their home having a talk. No flash, no dash.  But great.

The point

So Connie and I are sitting and talking later that week and she said something that just nailed it for me.  She said “you know what I love about being at our host’s house.  I feel at home.  They have cleaned up and they have a beautiful home – but I don’t feel intimidated.  they are ready for us, but they are not putting on a show for us. That’s how I feel about Seacoast.  I know the “show” could be better if we wanted it to be, but I feel comfortable and I think new people do too.  They don’t feel like they are at a show.  They are a part of the family.”  Then is hit her, She said, “When I went to the Broadway show I was supposed to watch and marvel and I expected excellence and perfection, but I know it’s a show, no one is that perfect, but at Church I am not perfect and so I am glad that at Seacoast we are all just coming to the family room and singing together and having a conversation.  I like that”.

Sometimes being excellent intimidates people.  They are broken.  They would love to know you are too.