Bacon, Eggs & Burkas

I was sitting in my usual restaurant spot early on a Sunday morning – the place I go just before heading to the church. It’s my personal sanctuary as I review my notes one last time, collect my thoughts and fuel my tank before heading into a busy morning of activity in God’s house.  As a consequence of my weekly routine I’ve developed great relationships with the servers.   We know each other by name and they usually have my order placed even before I get seated. (Guess I need to mix it up a little more often, eh?)

This Sunday was different, though. A fellow I’d only said hello to a few times before came straight over, shook my hand and began to chit chat. He wasn’t a member of the waitstaff but part of the facilities crew.  He asked how the church was going, what I was speaking on that day, etc. Several times we’ve had staff inquire about and visit the church so this wasn’t unusual. After a few minutes smalltalk the man had other duties to attend to so we said goodbye and he walked on.

Later after I’d finished my omelet and was getting ready to pack up and head to the church the waitress informed me that the gentleman I’d been talking to earlier had paid for my meal. Really?! That’d never happened before. These great folks don’t make a ton of money at their work and I was accustomed to leaving a generous tip to show my appreciation – but this time the tip came back to me!

I thanked my waitress, left the customary tip even though my meal was paid for, and prepared to leave when my generous benefactor appeared – and sat down. He obviously wanted to talk.  I thanked him for my meal and he began to tell me his story. He asked me what kind of church I pastored and I told him we were a hodgepodge – calico – Heinz 57 brand. (I don’t care for the term “non-denominational” because it sounds like we’re against them.) He said, “Oh..well I’m a Muslim.” I admit that a rush of mild adrenaline flooded over me as I prayed a silent prayer wondering  where this conversation would go.

My friend explained how tragic it was that Islam was so misrepresented by the extremists that made the news, how he believed in Jesus and ALL the prophets and their writings – as every good Muslim should. At this point I knew we’d left the narrow path of my Christian beliefs that Jesus is the only way to salvation, but I let him continue without interrupting.

He told me about how he’d grown up reading the Bible and was building a solid walk with Jesus when one day his uncle, a devout Muslim, asked him if he’d like to pray with him. My friend thought that sounded good and agreed to do so – but what happened next is what really made an impact on him. His uncle when into the bathroom and began to wash his hands and arms –  to “approach God with clean hands” as he explained. He then wrapped his head in an Amama (turban) and assumed the prayer position Muslims devoutly repeat 5 times each day. That kind of devotion and dedication impressed my friend as a young man, and as a result he took the Muslim faith as his own and continues to practice it to this day. “It’s all about humbling oneself,” my friend explained. A sign of true devotion, in his estimation.

I’ve thought about his words alot since our breakfast encounter. I appreciate his gesture of friendship, and believe the sincerity of his words. Obviously I do not agree with the path he has chosen or the religion he practices.  But there is something about his story that I cannot shake from my mind. As an impressionable young man he was obviously taken with his uncle’s devotion, which led to his adopting the faith his uncle believed in so strongly. I can’t help but wonder – were there any Christian men in my friend’s life who could have extended the same invitation? What if a Christ-following uncle had said, “Hey – I’m going to go pray with some friends of mine…would you like to come along?” And what if that man demonstrated in his life the character and devotion to Christ that his Muslim uncle displayed and invested in a mentoring role in the young man’s life. How differently might the story have ended?

I guess my musings lead to this conclusion – are we sincerely demonstrating our faith (not just religious talk), investing in the lives of others (with no agendas or demands), and simply inviting them to walk with us?  If not then our rhetoric and our actions aren’t quite lining up.  This story demonstrates that the hungry are out there…searching…waiting for someone to show them something genuine and invite them into it.  Perhaps that describes the condition of the generation we live in – and the reason why so few are choosing Christianity.

If we want that to change then maybe we should get serious about inviting others to join us on our journey…and maybe even sit down with someone who doesn’t share your faith and listen to their story.  Maybe it’ll earn us the right to buy THEIR breakfast sometime.  As for me, I’m looking forward to the opportunity to return the favor.