Getting On Board with God's Guest List

I often think of the parable of the wedding banquet when I'm in an invitation funk. This guy was hosting a wedding reception and invited all his friends to come. He had gone to huge expense for the guest list, and it would have been a great night. But they were too busy playing video games, watching TV and shopping. So he rolled the invitation on out to strangers who were mostly delighted to have been chosen. All except for one guy who wouldn't get on board with the dress code and tried to show up in his jeans, favorite shirt, and "comfy shoes." He was thrown out. The poor host can't find anyone who wants to say yes and celebrate. He's surrounded by people who would rather stay home in their sweat pants than really live.  (Matt 22)

I keep trying to believe that I will end up surrounded by exactly the people I'm supposed to be with, having the conversations I'm supposed to have. Just being present and showing up in the right outfit for where the yes is. Right now my yes comes from the young male LTs who aren't with the "in" crowd. The one Christian girlfriend on the island is too busy drinking to do our book study together. The guy who's a kindred spirit left for a month without having time for a planned last meal. So I'm buying the ingredients for curry and moving down the list to the gay couple in my neighborhood-- have plans, the bros I work with-- admit I cannot stomach a night of sex and booze talk, and on to the new LTs who just arrived and have offered to show up with hummus. God, help my heart to show up in its best hostess apron and love exactly who was supposed to arrive at my doorstep. And to remember these are the people who are saying yes to being loved.