for you

throughout my formative years i went to big churches with multiple services and a sea of unknown faces where it was a surprise to actually run into someone you knew.  these churches offered their own gifts to my family and me, but something was lacking.  i just didn't know what it was.

after college i found myself in the company of a house church, which was a breath of fresh air and life-shaping in many ways...but it was only for a season.  and then i moved to a little town in japan.  a little town with 3 little churches.  no longer was this a choice in the land of plenty.  suddenly mine was a known face among 25 others.  when someone was absent, their presence was missed.  and the presence of others greatly felt- for better or worse.

back in the US, i have found another small church.  or rather, it found me.  i don't know every face, but i know and am known by many.  i love it.  i love the people, i love the pastor's heart, and i love the palpable sincerity that oozes out the doors.  and perhaps i love best that we all walk up to take the bread and wine and remember Jesus together every week. the pastor and some of the deacons know me (and most people in our church) by name.  i am moved that someone's hands break the bread and someone else's hands pour the wine. and i know those someones.

today while we worshiped and took turns walking down to receive the bread, the deaconess broke off a small piece of bread and put it into my waiting palm while looking me in the eye saying, 

"beth, the body of Christ broken for you".  

and then i walked to the person holding the cup who also looked me in the eye and said, 

"beth, the blood of Christ shed for you". 

and i ate and drank and remembered that Jesus came as a person with a voice, with hands and with eyes.  a voice i would hear, hands that would offer me life, and eyes that would look into mine.  


this reality is inescapable...and so very personal.  Jesus is holding out life to me.  His body was broken and His blood shed.  He overcame death for me.  and He offers me life to the full.  and while doing this, He speaks my name.