Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Irreverin

Home
Progressive Christian
Passing the Peace

Passing the Peace

Last updated on: August 3, 2016 at 11:11 am by Erin Wathen

Passing the Peace 2016-08-03T11:11:08-07:00 Erin Wathen

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Hi, folks. I took a week or so away from blogging to finish my book, and now I’m taking a week away to spend with my family. Enjoy this guest post from my friend Annie Kratzsch, and look for more guest posts in the coming days. I’ll be back to writing around mid-August, and look forward to catching up with the world.

A few weeks ago, I was proselytized twice in three days.

On a Thursday night, before I could get all the way through the mall doors, I heard the universal opener for selling something: “Can I ask you a question?”

I didn’t have a chance to get out my usual, “No, thank you,” before the two young women launched into their spiel — something about eternal life that I couldn’t quite sort out. I listened, I answered the rhetorical questions, I took the pamphlets and business cards. But at the end of our interaction, they didn’t know my name. They didn’t know that I follow Jesus or that my son has multiple disabilities or even that I hate going to the mall. And I, quite frankly, didn’t know what it was they were trying so desperately to get me to accept. We parted amicably, but the theme of the encounter was clear: This is what you should think.

Grouchy and discombobulated, I ducked into a store, wondering how a person could expect to accomplish anything worthwhile in such a short, random interaction.

Then Saturday morning, we heard a knock at the door. My husband answered while I helped Collin with his stretches just inside. A man and woman in dress clothes waited and the woman was clearly on duty for our house. She stumbled through something vague about hope for these hard times. I could hear a quaver in her voice. She handed over a pamphlet and nervously referenced an article inside.

I was surprised to hear my husband ask a few questions. He really listened to the answers. He even shared a bit about his job and where we attend church.

And that’s when I realized what was going on: he was putting her at ease. It was miraculous how quickly it worked. Within a couple of minutes, she was laughing and making conversation about the paint chips hanging on our front door, going so far as to cast her vote for Sunspot Yellow. When the conversation wrapped up, she warmly thanked him for his time and moved on.

via Pixabay

It would have been easy to brush her off or act offended for being disturbed at home. And it’s not that he didn’t use the home court advantage. He definitely did. He just used it to share what he had — to do some small, simple good. The theme of their encounter was clear: Don’t worry. You’re safe here.

We do this thing at our church where we take a couple of minutes during the service to greet the people around us. Some churches call it ‘passing the peace’. I always thought it was awkward and maybe a waste of time — a compulsory, fly-by exchange, like the young women at the mall. But that Sunday felt different. I thought of my husband welcoming the strangers at our door and was able to see those few moments of interaction as a chance for real connection.

Unfortunately, passing the peace can be especially awkward with Collin. Many don’t know how to interact with him. His wheelchair, his lack of eye contact or verbal communication, his unfamiliar body language — it’s all a bit much for some people.

But Collin is tangible grace in our lives. In ways that are tricky to explain, he is our reminder of goodness and truth. He is our home court advantage. He gives us peace to pass on.

So, like that day at the front door, my family is empowered to welcome the nervous and the awkward in those few moments on Sunday mornings. Through handshakes and eye contact, through asking simple questions and listening to answers, we pass on the message we all need to hear: Don’t worry. You’re safe here.

Annie Kratzsch is a writer and editor in Louisville, Kentucky. At This Rare Day, she writes about the richness and mess of living a life she didn’t expect: raising the incomparable Collin, who also has a rare disease and multiple disabilities.

progressive christianity

rare disease

Previous Post

July 22, 2016

7 Takeaways from the RNC: And the Only One You Really Need to Know

Next Post

August 5, 2016 A Privileged Seat at the Table

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category a good week for progress Advent and Christmas Being a Person desert life faith and community Good News for Progressives Lent and Easter Marriage and Family S*^! Jesus Says sabbatical road tripping Spirituality in Culture Talking to Strangers the "Best Stuff I Ever Ate" diet travel Uncategorized writing Writing Prompt Wednesday

Select a Month January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 February 2011 July 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the Roman emperor when Jesus was born?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Nero Julius Caesar Augustus Tiberius