Looking for Someone

She took her place on the risers with the rest of her first grade classmates.  This was the day of the musical performance they all had been preparing for since the beginning of the school year.  The boys and girls were each dressed up in their homemade costumes.  Their excitement was undeniable.  Even the boys like our son, Seth, could not hide his smile.  This is a big moment.  Would they remember their speaking parts?  Would they sing loud enough?  Would they keep all the motions and lyrics straight?  Would parents and grandparents like their show? 

We took our seat in the front row.  Seth pretended not to see us though I was waved both hands in the air obnoxiously and shouted in pride, “Hi Seth!”  He didn’t acknowledge me but his smile was priceless.  But then I noticed one of his classmates.  She was on the verge of tears.  While the other children were talking to one another, waving to family or trying to act like their family was not there, this little girl was becoming increasingly sad.  Her eyes were frantically searching back and forth across the auditorium.  I heard someone ask, “What’s wrong with that little girl?”  How could they not know what was wrong?  It was obvious. Whoever she was looking for was not there.   She was watching her classmates catch a glimpse of mom or dad or grandma or grandpa, while she saw no one there for her. 

Big tears began to run down her little cheeks.  She was doing her best to fight them back, but her heart was breaking and she could not hide it.  She just wanted someone, anyone to be there for her. I was tempted to jump up, introduce myself, lie and say that I had come especially to see her and Seth, but I knew it would not be anything more than a consolation prize. She was not just looking for anyone.  She was looking for someone in particular. 

The program was about to begin and the Music Teacher offered her opening words of introduction.  The little girl gave up trying to fight back her tears, which now flowed freely.  Finally, a man walked in by himself to the back row.  I have no idea who he was, but I was so glad he came because when the child saw him, her tears stopped as a look of relief washed across her face.  He must have mouthed to her, “What’s wrong?” Because she mouthed back, “I was looking for you.” 

We are all looking for someone to be there for us, aren’t we?  O, we have long-since learned to stuff our tears and hide our disappointment, but I am convinced that even as adults we look around to see if anyone cares enough to be there for us.  It is a special gift to know that someone cares enough to show up just to show you that they care.  And it is a tragedy to be looking for someone to show up when you need them the most and no one comes. 

In a day and age when social media allows us to be more connected than ever loneliness is practically an epidemic.  One of the things I love about my role as a Pastor is that when people will allow me the honor, I love to ask one question, “So, what is your story?”  Time and time again, as I listen to people of all walks of life share their story I am amazed to hear how much those moments of someone either showing up or not showing up impact them for good or bad. 

I suppose it is at this point, when it might be expected that I sum it all up with a simple message about how when you look all over the auditorium of life and see no one there for you that Jesus is standing in the back row trying to get your attention and asking, “What’s wrong?” If it would be helpful for you to go there, please feel free.  However, it would seem that Jesus would rather you receiving something with skin on.  You see, that is why when he left us here to wait for his return, he gave us both his Spirit and his Body.  We who have his Spirit in us are to be that somebody for one another and for the world.  On those days when we see a brother or sister fighting back tears, we are to stand up, wave lovingly and say, “”I’m here!  In Jesus name, I am here for you!”  And on those days when we are looking for someone to be there for us, we are not to fake it and then be disappointed that others did not figure out our need, but to say to the church family, “I’m looking for someone right now; someone who can pray, listen and just plain be there for me for a moment.” 

Romans 12:15 gives us this snapshot of the Body of Christ:  “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”  Jesus not only gave us his Spirit to be there for us, but he also gave us one another.  Of course, that is easier said than done.  All kinds of things can get in the way of us loving one another.  The rest of Romans 12 admits that and gives us truth to help us overcome our differences.  But why did Jesus not just give us his Spirit—it certainly would be less complicated?  Because God said in the beginning, way before sin entered the world that it is not good for us to be alone.  God does not want even one of his children to look across the auditorium of life and find that no one is there for him or her. And that is why God sends us, His Church, into our community and to the uttermost parts of earth so that tears may be wiped away as those searching for someone, finding no one can hear, “We’re here!  Don’t cry!  In Jesus name, we care enough to show up for you!”