Some mornings I drive by Allegheny General Hospital and there are often confused drivers who are trying to get to the parkway or onto Route 28 and find themselves in the wrong lane or are headed in the wrong direction. I know exactly where I am trying to go and I get impatient when I miss a light because someone is blocking the lane in an attempt to change lanes or turn from the wrong lane. I used to have the same feelings driving through Oakland when I was in college. What is wrong with these people? How hard it is to follow the signs? When we know what we are doing it is hard to remember learning the first time and we get impatient with those who just don’t know.

 When I stop and think I remember my dear friends in Steubenville who would have to come to Pittsburgh and their anxiety about finding their way around. Knowing where to go in Oakland can be very difficult - which hospital, which parking garage, all mixed with one way streets made the trip worse than the medical condition for some. I used to think it was silly, I survived in Oakland for four years, how tough could it be? But for my friends it was a very real issue. I try to put myself in their shoes and when someone is in the wrong lane I assume they are stressed about having to go to the hospital, they don’t know the streets because they don’t live in the area and the last thing they need is some impatient moron honking and carrying on because he has to wait another light.

 If you can relate to that stress of trying to get somewhere you’ve never been or doing something you’ve never done, consider how visitors feel when they come to our church. We are a very welcoming congregation once you get into the sanctuary, but it can be confusing getting there. And once someone makes it to the sanctuary, what happens when the service begins? When do we stand, sit, how do we know what to say? What if some poor soul should say “trespasses” or “sins” instead of “debts”? Of course no one would care, we are just happy to have visitors with us, but it might make the visitor feel very self conscious. Where is the child care, what happens if I sit in someone’s seat, do I have something to put in the plate; visiting a church can be a daunting experience. Sure, we do it every week, it’s like driving in Oakland, we know where we are going. But how easy do we make it for others to join us?

 We can extend our friendship to visitors by sitting with them, initiating conversation with them and helping them through the service. If someone is sitting where you or someone you know normally sits, don’t make a big deal about it, it’s not anyone’s pew. Sit with them and welcome them to our fellowship. It is not the responsibility of the visitor to make themselves welcome, it is our job, everyone of us, to make everyone feel welcomed.