"Getting to Know You"

Hey Church and other interested Readers,
A long time ago there was a song that went something like this, "getting to know you, getting to know all about you". Now I know that this dates me but I have a reason for reaching way back into my musical archives. Two weeks ago while at Beckie's family reunion there were several families who had not attended for awhile and it was good to see them. One person in particular caught my attention for they had a son in his mid-twenty's, Ryan, who was deaf. I'm a people watcher and I noticed that not only did folks not go out of there way to get to know Ryan, but they seemed to almost avoid him. After all how do you talk to a deaf person if you cannot Sign? Oh, I was one of those folks! Anyway it was now Sunday morning, our last day. I was up early, as usual, and so was Ryan. I got some coffee started and he was elated being a big coffee drinker himself. He went outside and sat alone and I knew God was telling me to get my fanny over there and get to know him. So I pulled my bag chair up to wear he was sitting, got out one of my business cards (I can hear the Disaster Relief guys chuckling as I say this) and handed it to him as a way of introducing myself. We shook hands and then began to Get to know one another. I had a yellow pad and pen with me, so I started writing down stuff and then he would write back. This went on until his mom joined our conversation and then she "signed" eveything that was said during our conversation. It was a great morning of coffee drinking and getting to know my new 2nd cousin on my wifes side. As we were about to leave I went to say good-bye to Ryan and told him that I hoped to see him in two years and also maybe on the Canoe trip. He smiled, nodded yes and then hugged me with tears in his eyes, and then mine began to flow.
How well do you your neighbors, those who sit in the pew behind you. Hospitality is a Christian trait that we often fail to practice today for we are afraid to step outside of our comfort zone. When are you going to step outside of yours? Love you all, Pastor Rick