"Welcome Drinks On Arrival"

Matthew 10:40-42
10:40 "Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.

10:41 Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous;

10:42 and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple -- truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward."


I love the metaphor here.  A welcome extended to someone is like a cup of cold water offered at just the right moment.  You've had that happen, right? A tall cold glass of water just after doing yard work really hits the spot. Or perhaps a Left Hand brew along side a slice of pizza. Sometimes that one drink makes you feel completely new, totally refreshed.

In this short passage, we get to ponder "welcome."  How do we welcome others in Christ's name? And does it make them feel like they've been offered a cup of cold water on a hot summer day?

I heard a conversation on the radio the other day about how some airlines have quit giving out snacks and even drinks on board their shorter flights.  One DJ was saying he didn't think it mattered because if you can't get through two hours of a flight without a snack, you've got other issues.  The other DJ said it isn't about you needing it, it's about the gesture it offers, the welcome, the sense of neighborliness and goodwill. She said you don't usually have friends over and not over them something to drink.  True.

It got me to thinking about how important those small gestures are and how important it is to get the moment right, as well, in its offering.  When you fly somewhere, admit it, it DOES feel nice to have the flight attendant hand you a soda and a cookie.  When you check in at the Doubletree, it IS nice when they give you warm cookie. Some others do this, too, but Doubletree seems to be known for it.  We checked in our hotel in New Orleans recently and in true New Orleans style, were offered welcome cocktails.  There's something about that offer extended that makes you feel completely welcome and loved by the business that hands you the water bottle, the cookie, the cocktail.

What does that mean for us as a church?  How do we develop that welcome and loved feeling when we move into the community to be among the Niwot/Gunbarrel/greater Longmont/Boulder population? How do we extend a welcome to those who aren't walking in our doors?  And how do we get that 'warm cookie, cool glass of water' feeling to reach everyone who enters here?

Vacations are about letting your hair down, relaxing, getting away from it all. This summer sermon series on the Summer Vacation has addressed some parts of vacationing that aren't relaxing... getting lost, staying on guard and watching those around you, etc.  But this week, let us end by focusing on how falling into the grace and love of Christ can be like a cold glass of water on a hot day.  And let's think about how we can extend that same grace and love to our neighbor, so that the cup of cold water feeling continues, and spreads, and grows.

A movement called Suspended Coffees understands this good will gesture. Though not a religious movement, it certainly follows the golden rule.   

People also have a kind of ad hoc pay it forward campaign at Starbucks around the country where they pay for the drink of the person behind them in line. It's a cool movement. Random acts of kindness. Cold water.

What are your ideas for extending the cup of cold water to the world? Email me or comment below.