Every week I meet this father and his son in the locker room at the YMCA where Santy and I go swimming.  The father is in his late 50s and the son, in his late 20s; and both are mentally challenged. But this is what I always notice: They are always talking to each other. I do not know whether it is done out of habit or need, but I notice that it is the father who helps his son put his shoes and clothes on.

But that’s not all that I see in the YMCA.  Every week Santy and I see this middle-aged seeing-impaired woman swim and walk with her white cane.  We wonder how she manages to do that, but she does.  Every week she swims, and she walks even though she cannot see much.  Every week we also see older folks, some are still ambulatory but some already in wheelchairs and must be brought down to the water by a crane.  But they all come and have a good time; we see a lot of smiles floating around.  None is perfect, but all are happy.

I thank God for George Williams, who, in 1844 with eleven friends of his, founded this small organization called Young Man’s Christian Association in London, to provide young people with healthy and godly activities, a vision that grew out of a prayer meeting and Bible Study fellowship he had with his fellow workers.  YMCA became an extension of the Church, it became the hands of Jesus Our Lord, it became the house of God for all, troubled youth and healthy youth.

That is what we are as a church.  We became the hands of Jesus, Our Blessed Lord, calling and welcoming both the troubled and the healthy to His house, providing them with love and guidance from His Holy Word.  Some need more assistance—and correction—than others; some are healthier, thus, can bear more burden than others; some are more challenged—and challenging—than others requiring more patience, but all need God’s forgiveness and redemption. 

Pastor Paul