12 Jul A Parking Lot to Remember
My wife Ramona and I recently took a road trip, and it happened to be one of the towns where I worked in radio news some four decades ago. We were there to see a Contemporary Christian artist perform. What I didn’t know was that the venue was across the street from the former radio station building (it now houses a different business). As we got out of our van, a memory came rushing back to me: It was that parking lot.
You see, station management imposed a policy that restricted on-air staff parking to the far side of the lot, away from the building. The slots near the building were saved for management…and sales staff.
The policy sent a not-so-subtle message that those who generated revenue were deemed more valuable than those of us who generated the product. It irked me, but I didn’t think much of it, until one day. In a driving rainstorm, I attempted to park in a slot near the building when the sales manager pointed at me to move my car to the far side. I now understood how demeaning the policy was and how we were seen as second-class citizens. The truth is people are often made to feel like second-class citizens.
They may be deemed second-class because of their race, age, gender, socioeconomic status or lifestyle. Sadly, that list is not exhaustive. Our ministry at Samaritan’s Heart focuses on the unhoused, those struggling with addiction and reentry from incarceration. The unhoused can especially feel the eyes of judgment on them, often. Which brings me to another parking lot moment. Road construction near the church last year ate up several parking spaces.
An unhoused guest asked where they could park now. I said, “Uhm, the parking lot?” Their response was jarring: “Oh, we can park in the lot?” Thinking they weren’t allowed to park in the church lot cut me to the core. They assumed that we saw them just as I was seen four decades ago: second-class. They are often made to feel that way; apparently, they felt church wouldn’t be any different. Jesus tells us it needs to be way different.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:34-40
Consider Jesus’ words carefully. We are to treat those in need as if they were Jesus. Jesus is the King of kings. Yet He washed dirt and manure off the feet of his disciples. The King of kings treated his students as royalty. That’s how we are to treat those in need!
The desire to treat others as Jesus taught us doesn’t come naturally. It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that our hearts are reset from self-service to service. And the most amazing part is how much joy you will feel in making others feel first-class!
Pastor Jerry Bader
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