The Unexpected Expectation

Luke 2:41-52

"Someone is at the door," he said to himself. It was after midnight, when the ringing of the bell would not cease. The pastor was relaxing, when the unexpected visitor came. Surprisingly it was young Master Bayfield, a middle school youth member of the local church.

"Pastor," the youth said, "may I stay with you? I can't take it anymore. My grandmother treats me as the one always wrong, because I am the oldest. It is not my fault, when they (his younger brother and two sisters) are the one pushing things up. When I try to get them to stop, I get blamed. It is not fair. Just not fair."  Returning the young man safely to the residence of his grandmother, after speaking with all concern during the night, proper pastoral intervention was concluded. This is not about the Bayfield struggle. It about the Bayfield and other young people knowing they can turn to the church for safe sanctuary.

Many children are missing safe and secure places to stay. Abuse in homes, kidnapping, molestation and acts of discord often give rise to youth running away from home by existing windows, back doors, etc.  Kids are hanging out in the middle of the night for the thrill of sex or abusive use of alcoholic beverages or other drugs. The signs posting missing children remind us that even one child missing from a safe place to stay is one too many. What shall we do, when the unexpected comes home to us?

Everyone should find the place of worship in the midst of grief. A comforting place of peace and blessed assurance is most valuable when troubles and burdens overload.

The church may be a safe sanctuary. Bayfield heard his pastor say in church: "I expect you to find your way to church, if you ever need safe sanctuary. No one should abuse or inappropriately touch you or cause you alarm. If I am not at the church when you come, here is my cell number. And remember, I live next door." It should forever be a blessed unexpected expectation for our children and youth to come to church for safety, security and sanctuary. What a difference safe sanctuary makes in life. Here is to wishing all missing persons could be found in church.

Jesus was missing for three days before his parents found him in the temple. His response to them indicated that the expectation should have been to find him in the temple. Among the reasons to have our children and youth in church should be about safety in life, not just life beyond death. This is about the expectancies of life, here and now. Parents and others responsible for raising children in today's society are encouraged to consider the church as a safe sanctuary. The local church is where relationship can be established, so as to expect our children to run to the church when safety needed and sanctuary is desired.

The unexpected expectation should become a blessed expectation, when we teach our children to pray for the guidance of God and stay in touch with the people of God. Word of abuse being administered by some pastors and priest has damaged and marred the church being a place for our children to run to in time of trouble. Be assured that responsible persons have countered abusive ways of clergy. Commitment has been made to protecting persons coming to clergy for support and protecting clergy from people coming to abuse. Responsible people are insuring that the church remains a safe sanctuary, so that you may expect a safe place amidst the unexpected occurrences in life.

 

Lord Jesus Christ. Son of God, have mercy and grant us a place of safety. Amen.