Annie’s Welcome
We are back from vacation, and like Nixon said 50+ years ago, I’m tanned, rested, and ready. We had a great time with friends on a bike tour and escaped the smoke for a bit.
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Ten years ago Claudia and I made the difficult decision to put down our family dog. Old and failing, the vet graciously did the deed, and we brought her home and buried her in our unlicensed pet cemetery.
While I thought we had agreed to wait before finding another dog, someone in our house soon found a tiny rescue mutt online from a group in Yakima. We drove north and when we saw her, Annie fit easily into my hand and soon captured our hearts. She learned quickly, adapted eagerly, snuggled contentedly, and ate heartily.
I’m pretty sure Annie has never had a bad day.
When the doorbell rings, she barks a welcome and so wants to be the first to greet whomever is at our door and makes sure they are in and safe before going off to her own pursuits. She shamelessly sidles up to just about anyone for a scratch or a belly rub.
Annie is a walking, barking, 12 pound welcome wagon, and I can learn from her.
Think for a bit about the idea of “welcome.”
It carries the sense of openness, acceptance, and even joy at your presence on someone’s doorstep.
Not limited to words, there is a distinct aroma of welcome that some people carry, and you, as the one on the doorstep, can sense it right away.
Welcoming people smile, touch, and make eye contact, ask good questions, and show interest in the others in the room.
Jesus people are called to be hospitable, welcoming, open-doored.
There’s an interesting episode in the ministry of Jesus that Dr. Luke relates in ch.11 when 72 of the followers are sent out as advance teams of two to the places Jesus soon intended to visit. Here is his commission to the teams.
The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.
So, they are to spread out to nearby towns on a short-term mission trip as Annie-dog people with a message looking for Annie-dog people willing to hear.
When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you. ’But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say,‘ Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
My mind goes to some questions about all this welcoming stuff, and a few pinch like cheap shoes.
What do people see or sense about me when they meet me? Is my welcome sign lit?
What role does my affect have on my conversations with others? How might my demeanor impact openness?
How might I grow this area of welcoming others in my life, my home?
At church gatherings or socials or at work, how can I be a part of making “welcome” an integral part of the thing so no one is left out?
People, well most people, like being around Annie. She is a fine example of dog people at their best. I want to be like Annie.
Perhaps invest a bit of think time as to how you are doing and where you might grow in this area. It isn’t a matter of introvert/extrovert explanations, but one of opening up a skosh to make room for others to join in on what you have going on. We have good news to share, let’s make sure the welcome mat is clean and swept and ready for the next visitor.
As I write this note on the iPad, Annie is asleep on my lap, content to be with her human. It might just be that contentedness is fruit of a welcoming heart.
Music? Sure
Let’s do bad jokes…
Rosey and Nina were best of friends and tried to do everything together. Rosey announced that she was going to start a diet to lose some pounds she had put on recently.
"Good!" Nina exclaimed. "I'm ready to start a diet too. We can be dieting buddies and help each other out. And when I feel the urge to drive out and get a burger and fries, I'll call you first."
"Great!" Rosey replied. "I'll ride with you to Burger King."
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(this one’s too true!?!)
Jim was driving down the street in a sweat because he had an important meeting and couldn't find a parking place.
Looking up to heaven he said, "Lord take pity on me. If you find me a parking place, I will go to church every Sunday for the rest of me life and give up drinking beer!"
Miraculously, a parking place appeared.
Jim looked up again and said, "Never mind, I found one."