Love One Another

On Wednesday (4/29/2009) we dedicated the new fountain and sculpture. It was a beautiful spring day, and several hundred people came to share in free food, live music, and the blessing and dedication of Messiah Lutheran Church’s new face to the community. I had an incredible day. From the comments I heard, and the smiles on all the faces, apparently a whole lot of other people had a great time during an extended lunch hour.

It was incredible… to see the dream of one family become a reality; from their dream, to a shared vision, to planning, to presentation, to permits, to construction, to dedication, and finally to a reality in our community. It really was incredible to experience!

It was incredible… to see the naysayers in our own church community come to harrumph and scoff and complain, and then leave shaking their heads and murmuring: “It’s not bad.”

It was incredible… to listen to the stream of people from the community, who are not members of our fellowship here at Messiah, as they left the dedication. I was on the street, working parking (what else is new), and I heard visitors say things like:

“I saw it being built, and had to come see; it’s beautiful!”
“Pastor Bob's dedication moved me."
"Now I understand the inscription.”
“The cross and the fountain move me.”
“Thanks you! The fountain challenges me to love more.”
“This is now the favorite part of my commute.”
“This is great! Are you sure you guys are a church?”

In letters big enough to see from a passing car, the street side of the fountain says:

“LOVE ONE ANOTHER”

While the side that faces our campus, the side we see when we leave our campus and return to the world, reminds us to:

“LOVE GOD – LOVE ONE ANOTHER”

When the Eiffel Tower was built in Paris, there were plenty of people who complained that it was too big and that it was ugly. When the Getty Museum was being built in Los Angeles, I remember how people wailed and complained that the 5 billion dollars it took to build it could have been used to better purposes. Today, both of those places attract millions of people every year. People are attracted to fountains, sculpture, and architecture. For the most part, those that come are moved. They find that their hearts are gladdened, and that their souls are lifted. Certainly, we didn’t build an Eiffel Tower or a Getty Center. We built an attractive fountain to present a beautiful face to our neighbors… rather than just another bleak parking lot. And we topped our fountain with a sculpture of a cross; a reminder of who we are, and who we follow.

Jesus commanded us to “Love God, and love one another.” With our fountain, we share that bit of good news with our community… and the world. I had one visitor ask me if I thought that the fountain would attract more people to our church. I chuckled, and told him:

“Having a beautiful fountain doesn’t attract people. Neither does having a new Community Life Center, or a remodeled sanctuary, or anything else our campus has to offer. What attracts people is a fellowship that is alive in God’s Spirit… that’s what attracts people. Why not join us this Sunday, and see for your self?”

If he does join us this Sunday, are we ready for him? I believe so. I believe that we have been living the words we so boldly placed on our fountain. I believe that we truly do love one another!

Your brother in Christ,

Dave