Sharing Room

Our congregation has been thinking a lot about this word sharing lot lately. In an effort to be better stewards of our large amount building both spiritually and financially (as many churches in our community have already done), our people have approved the use of a Catholic boys school to move in for this school year (and maybe for many years in the future).

Today as I write this, there are close to one hundred boys outside my window having recess in our parking lot/ grounds. They are all in dress shirts and ties, some as young as the 3rd grade. It is a site to see them running and playing on the grass that is usually left undisturbed during the week.

It is great to have them here and to really put into practice ecumenical values and learning from one another. What do Baptists and Catholics have in common? Well, over the next several months we are going to be reminded on a daily basis of what we do . . . acts of compassion and kindness, love of education our our common faith in Christ.

In describing our situation to some of my friends, I came up with the analogy of: your brother moving into your bedroom for the first time. In such a case as this: you aren't used to having to give a little of your closet space. You aren't used to picking up your clothes from the floor. You aren't used to having to make sure that everything is tidy when you shut the door. But, because your brother has moved in, everything has changed and you have to approach your tasks differently.

This is the first time that we've ever had to share so much of our space. This is the first time that Sunday School teachers have had to have their materials sitting on the shelves besides Science textbooks and Social Studies maps. This is the first time that when we walk into a classroom on Sunday morning the chairs might not be correctly organized because someone else has been there. There have been some tensions about posters on the walls, bulletin board space that have recently been worked out. Yet, there might be more to come (but I hope not).

As a result of this, everything has changed for our church's education staff because of the presence of the Catholic boys school. But in many ways nothing has changed. Our teaching curriculum on Sunday mornings will remain the same. Our teachers will still be there to greet our children with open arms. Our mission to help individuals grow spiritually and in community with one another still is in action.

But, probably for a little while, the vision from our eye's window panes will remain a little odd. It will take time to adjust. Soon, however, it will feel like our brothers have always been here as we learn what it means to enjoy the goodness of Christian togetherness.