Just as We Were

It is an old Baptist joke that we sing "Just as I Am" in church every Sunday but then we leave just as we were. I often think about that hymn even though my husband and I have been regularly attending an Episcopal Church in downtown Little Rock for the past year. There is no altar call there each week. What replaces it, however, it seems is, in some ways, much more meaningful: communion. Communion has always been a time to reflect upon the events of past days, confess sins, and be renewed into the full fellowship and grace of God. I have been observing a young man (his name is John) who is blind as he receives the wafer and the wine from the priest. He sits alone on the first row, center, of the church pew and waits until his turn after everyone else has already moved forward to the front of the church.

I often wonder who his family is and what his background is. I think of the irony of those of us who have our sight and still remain spiritually blind, except on Sundays, of course. I think of another old Baptist hymn we have loved through the years: "Amazing Grace." Its lyrics are, "I once was blind but now I see," and I begin to imagine what heaven will be like for this young man. If we take Jesus at His word, John will be able to see again; he will have a perfect body and be able even to see God face to face.

In the meantime, we all continue to live in an imperfect world where those in poverty continue to struggle, those in poor health begin to fail even more, and those who are addicted to alcohol and drugs struggle to break old habits. Many of us open our eyes each day but still do not see the needs of those around us. We walk out of the church, cleansed of sins, but just as we were.