Across the Pastor’s Desk by Todd Walsh

I have two stories to share with you about welcome and forgiveness. More than that, they are about God’s welcome and forgiveness of us. 

Years ago I went on a mission trip to Latvia and Russia. Visiting Russia requires a complicated visa application and everything needs to be just so on the form. We decided this trip to save money on air fare; we would land in St. Petersburg, Russia, then to go Latvia, and then return to Russia to visit Moscow, and leave Russia via St. Petersburg again. That required a double entry visa for Russia.

Our visas arrived in the mail. We received a single entry visa. So we sent the visas back to the Russian Embassy in Washington and explained our dilemma. Then we heard nothing. The date of departure approached and we still heard nothing. We tried to reach the Russian Embassy by phone. No one answered.  Then we called Senator Wellstone’s office. A couple days later his office called back and said the visas were on their way in the mail. We received them a couple days before departure. However, what came back was the same single entry visas but now with a second entry stamp inside. Off we went. 

The trip went great. We got on the train in Riga, Latvia, and off we went for the Russian border. The train stopped in the middle of the night as usual at the border. The border guards came to our cabin and one of them looked at our visas that said single entry on the cover. The guard looked inside and saw that we had already entered Russia. I speak a little Russian and in this moment enough to know we were in trouble. He pointed to the cover and then to the first entry stamp. My rudimentary Russian pointed out the second entry stamp. The guard took our passports and left. Then we heard yelling and an obviously angry superior came to our cabin with our passports. We were treated to more yelling and pointing and bad Russian. Then our passports left again.

We knew we had a problem. We also knew by this time that we were in the middle of nowhere on the Russian border and that outside the window was nothing but darkness. And one more thing. We knew on Russian trains that when you flush the toilet you see the rails below the train. Don’t walk the tracks if you get thrown off the train!

Then we heard more yelling and I knew enough Russian to understand some of the swearing. And some obscenities are universal and require no translation. Then we heard the officer talking on his radio. There was silence. Then the underling who originally came to the cabin returned and stamped our second entry page and quietly left. We were in … and still on the train.

The second story is shorter and perhaps not as memorable. I needed to take a class on the Gospel of Luke my second year of seminary. But I learned the class was full. I explained my dilemma to my adviser, Dr. Harrisville. He told me to not do anything and he would talk to the professor teaching the class, Dr. Tiede. A week later I met with my adviser again.  He told me to go ahead and talk to the professor again.

I saw Dr. Tiede in the hall and greeted him and introduced myself. He smiled and threw his arms in the air in surrender and said, “You’re in.” 

Now to tie the two stories together.

Would you prefer God to be like that yelling and cursing Russian border guard? 

Or would you rather that God be like my seminary professor, who on meeting you would say, “You’re in!”

God as border guard means everything must be in order to be in. The Bible addresses this question:  “…since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). This scenario means we would all be walking the tracks were it not for the mercy of our God.

What happens if our God is one who on seeing us announces, “You’re in?” That very image is central to the Christian religion.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16).

“We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2).

The welcome of the father in Luke 15’s story of the prodigal son paints a picture of a gracious God ready to welcome and forgive. “His father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20).

May you each day see the welcome, mercy and eternal promise of this God whose message is, “You’re in.”

May our churches be places where all who enter hear, “You’re in.”

May you also share that welcome of mercy in your journey.

Todd Walsh is director of spiritual care services at Thorne Crest Senior Living Community in Albert Lea.