Average Joe

We Met. Remember the guy I called Gay Joe. By own admission he had come to despise Christians. He was coordinating friend’s wedding that I had been asked to officiate.

After the ceremony, he asked me what it was like officiating a wedding at a church where people were accepted. He was referring to the church I was standing in, not Capital. His back handed inquiry bugged me.

I paused and said "I love doing weddings at Capital." He smirked and realized that I was serious about connecting to people beyond my comfort of Christian belief. The conversation faded as we both had responsibilities. Before he walked away I told him I wanted to get some coffee sometime.

I would guess by his expression that this shocked him.


Days passed, but we finally connected. I went and had coffee with Joe. It was a great hour of learning for me and understanding how so many Christians, with miss directed zeal, and had shunned the very ones that Jesus embraced. He embraced people despite their belief or struggle.

As we finished chatting, I slid a copy of The Gutter across the table and told him it was a manifesto for my life. I said it chronicled a new found friendship with a porn producer, a prostitute, a pimp, a prisoner, and a pastor.

Maybe that could be the next book...The Pimp and The Pastor.

He laughed.
I laughed.
Jesus smiled.

Get out of the box today and love.

jas