Stumbling Into Love
This fall, Jen and I took our van for a quick visit to family and to deliver some packages. After an overnight in Morgantown, WV, we were off to State College, PA with hopes of arriving early.
Ninety minutes out, as the morning sun crested over the mountains, our van began to chug, and dash lights flashed indicating a transmission issue. Rats. Not taking any chances, we pulled over, called AAA, and they towed us 20 miles to a small-town transmission shop near the border of Maryland. There was no service on Sunday, so we left our keys in a drop box. We were car-less, and tried to figure our next move.
Jen said, “Let’s call Rich and Jenny!” They are the only other family we know in WV and lived only an hour away. In fact, we had mused about visiting on our return trip. After explaining the situation on the phone, Jenny said, “I’ll be right there, you can stay with us!” They are salt-of-the-earth people and lived in Cincinnati when all our kids were small, and being with them is like being with family. We caught up on the ride home to their quaint little mountain town called Berkley Springs. It so happened that weekend was the Apple Butter Festival and a carnival atmosphere was in full swing. Their home sits right off the main drag in the middle of town.
They had set up a shelter in their front yard, and cookies and root beer were being passed around. Friendly young people milled around everywhere, doing what teenagers do. This family makes everyone feel welcome.
Fifteen years ago, God called them to pastor in this community, and they have faithfully cared for families and youth ever since. They’ve done their best to live and love the way Jesus would, having opened their home to young and old when life was coming apart at the seams. Some have stayed a short time, others long, and several have become part of their permanent family. The heroin epidemic has devastated these mountain towns; few remain untouched by addiction, death or incarceration. Yet, hope is advancing, too.
At dinner that night we watched a full house scarf down a scrumptious meal prepared by Jenny. The level of love and incarnational ministry living here is amazing. Real life, real love, in really tough and confusing situations are being meted out across the table, on the couch, and at all hours of the day and night.
When the morning sun touched the valley floor we set out on Rich’s daily circuit of the town. I felt like we were in Mayberry, USA, as people greeted with a smile, knowing Rich as the “preacher man." There were laughs and jokes with folks at every turn. Rich has a funny streak that never turns off; he seems like Andy Griffith in a town that needs good guys.
“That’s where I first met the young man who’s living with us now,” he said, pointing towards a nearby gazebo. A tragic back-story had left him homeless. So, Rich said, “You can live with us if you like.” That afternoon he moved into their basement. A few days later, expecting the worst, he sheepishly asked if Rich would give him a few days’ warning before kicking him out, since he’d need some time to figure things out. “What?” said Rich. “Nobody’s going to kick you out. When I invited you to live with us, I meant you can be part of our family for as long as it takes.” The young man’s emotional response proved that he’d not been welcomed by a family like that before. In the next days, Rich would find him a job, and life took another step.
One story sparked another.
When their youth group dreamed of going to a huge youth conference called “Passion” in Atlanta, Georgia, one student wrote a letter to the organizer, Louie Giglio, saying they wanted to bring as many kids from their mountain town as they could, but had no money. Miraculously, a few weeks later, a check arrived in the mail, enabling them to scoop up 80 local kids and transport them by coach to Atlanta, where the group quickly became an illustrative talking point of the conference that year. New friends, Louie Giglio and worship leader Chris Tomlin, welcomed them by name for the next few years to come.
Wow, really?! How did I not hear about this?
Still ambling through town, another car stopped to chat, a guy named Bruce. Does Rich literally know everyone? Later I learned that Bruce’s daughter had been on that bus to Passion the first year and was excited about returning, but in the days just preceding she was struck and killed while riding her bike on the side of the main road through town. It appeared that the driver had been drug-influenced, sending another shock wave through the youth group and the community.
A sober group of kids attended Passion that year. On that first night, when Louie greeted his returning friends, Rich shared what had happened. On the spot, Louie decided to change the direction of the conference and retold the story of what had happened, emphasizing “No one knows what will happen when you walk out the door tonight. Let’s get right with God now.” Many responded to the message of the gospel and the tenor and tone of the conference was set.
Sometimes your best moments are stumbled upon while in route to other places.
Later, with a hug and a laugh, Rich dropped us off at Enterprise rentals so we could continue our journey. Were it not for that faulty transmission, we might have missed seeing Jesus on display. Love is doing something in Berkley Springs and perhaps people won’t hear about it. But lives are changing, the good, the painful, and the real. Jesus is hanging out off of US State Route 522. I saw Him. Whether Rich tells them or not, these stories are being told in heaven. They’re the kind angels long to look into (1 Peter 1:12), and every once in a while, we stumble across them.
What are you stumbling over?