Part XLVIII:

The Confessional Booth

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     Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. ~Matthew 5:23-24

     Early next morning Alex heard a knock on his door and got up to answer it.  Squinting his eyes he asked, "Jim?Everything alright?"

     "Yea, I just wanted to know if I could borrow your truck for a few hours. I'd leave you my car but it's still out of commission. I can leave you my motorcycle if you need to get out before I get back."

     "No problem," then opening the door wide and heading towards his kitchen Alex said, "Come on in. You want some coffee?"

     "Sure," Jim replied before taking a seat on a stool at the kitchen counter.

     Alex then began to pour water in his coffeemaker. "You looking to pick something up?"

     "Guess you can say that, and bring something in."

     "In where?" Alex asked with growing curiosity.

     "In here."

     "In this subdivision?"

     "Yea."

     Alex then stopped what he was doing, turned to Jim to face him, and asked with a mixture of humor and seriousness, "You're not bringing more trash in here Jim, are you, because we got plenty of our own to deal with?"

     Jim laughed catching the play on words. "No, nothing like that. It's just that the youth in my neighborhood once shared this story with me that they read in a book. They said these college kids thought that Christians owed the world an apology and made a confessional booth, then placed it on the grounds of the school. When other students would enter in they would confess and apologize to them about the mistakes Christians have made in the past and the pain that came with it. They really liked the idea feeling we owed the world an apology."

     Alex was growing more curious by the minute while Jim went on.

     "So, I've been praying and considering the best way to approach the mistakes we've made. Brian isn't open to seeing them and I didn't want this to become a battle between us where others are caught in the middle. I really do want to set a good example in my neighborhood, especially for the kids that look up to me. So then I felt that if they were that impressed with the confessional booth I would build one and place it in the park in your neighborhood where I know the residents living here usually hang out after church.  I would then confess my mistakes and apologize, along with any unnecessary offenses I've committed against them. I realize I've sinned against my neighbors, and have unnecessarily offended and hurt them. Jesus did say if we know that our brother is holding something against us we should look to make it right.

     Anyway, I think the word would spread and it would get back to the kids, and maybe even some of the older folks. We've been no better than our neighbors in handling the situation between us and to stress and confess their mistakes without seeing and confessing ours, to hold a standard up to them that we don't hold up to ourselves...it's hypocritical, even if it's been unintentional. We've committed our fair share of dumb and painful mistakes and offenses too, and we're not the only ones that have been hurt. I hope this will help them see that instead of just seeing things from one side."

     Jim then bowed his head before continuing, "Hear I am accusing others of eating baloney, when we have too. I don't want to be a hypocrite anymore, or lead those kids into hypocrisy. I just want to follow Jesus, and point others to Jesus too. I think it is time we saw the other side of that confessional booth and repented for our own mistakes and sins. It's time we grew up and took personal responsibility for our own lives and actions and see how we also may have contributed to the problem, and even escalated the situation; to see how we've also been quick to point our fingers and toss blame on others. I don't want to contribute to the problem anymore, I want to contribute to the solution." 

     Alex's smile widened. "As Jesus said, 'He who is without sin, or mistakes for that matter, cast the first stone.' Our problems are first and foremost a human condition problem, not just a certain sect within humanity...and it helps to understand how we've all contributed to the problem, and can contribute to the solution. Well said my friend, well said.

     It sounds like you've had your second touch from Jesus. I'll get my tools and help you set up."

End of "Book One: Fire and Ice". 

Our "Christian Stepfordville" story continues with 

"Book Two:  Loving God and Loving Neighbor"