Smile, smile, smile

I've seen the smile. Heck, I've had that smile. The good thing is - it is a smile.
This smile is the one that graces the faces of many before and after worship service at church. Men, women, children, husbands, wives, old and young. It is a bemused smile. A polite smile. A smile for the occasion. A smile that says, "I'm here, but..."
That's the thing, "I'm here...but..."
What does that smile say? "I'm here, but I wish I was somewhere else." "I'm here supporting my wife/husband/children, like I should, but is that all?" "I'm here, but I really don't know why" "I'm here, but I wish someone would tell me what is going on.' "I'm here, but I think I could be doing more"
Most likely, all of the above and, probably much more. These folks have taken the step. The step forward into their journey with Christ. Whatever it was that prompted them to take that step matters for sure, but not nearly as much as the fact that the step was taken.
That smile is the key to the kingdom that many Christians absolutely miss. That smile is one of questioning, longing and wonderment, which is exactly what God wants in a Christ-follower. He wants questions so that He can lead us, God wants us to long to be with Him in Heaven and, certainly, He wants our awe-struck worship.
What we really miss, however, is that these people with the smile are at the crossroads. They have the tools, the needs and they are at church, but that smile has a time limit. Like it or not, our society has not bred much in the way of patience. At some point, everyone wants their needs fulfilled, and, if they are not, a person will drift on just like a smile can drift away.
I spoke with a friend the other day about motivational management principles in business, but the words he spoke rang true about our leadership of people to Christ. He spoke of the need to get the people standing on the fence to plug in and live up to their potential. He referred to them as employees "at the edge of the light"." They are there, they are doing the job, but what would push them into really buying in and owning what was that business.
I really like that phrase, "at the edge of the light." I think it speaks well of the people with the smile on their faces on Sunday. Of course, just a little capitalization and we've got, "at the edge of the Light" and that is where these folks are. Ready, willing and able.
That is where we come in. Christ-followers are called to bring others to Jesus. As a matter of fact, the pattern was set by the Man himself.
"As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into a lake, for they were fishermen. 'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.' At once, they left their nets and followed him."
Mark 1: 16-19
Now many view this as the miraculous presence and power of the Christ, and it may have been, but I think Simon (Peter) and Andrew already had smiles on their faces when Jesus found them plying their chosen trade. No doubt, without distractions like television, video games and, heck, even books, these men had seen Jesus preach as they lived in the area where Jesus spent a good amount of time preaching. Peter and Andrew were, most likely, at the edge of the crowd one day listening and found what Jesus had to say intriguing, perhaps, life-changing, but were "at the edge of the Light." All they needed was to be spoken to directly and Jesus did so on that day by the lake.
So, maybe, we need to take a moment and reassess our conversations with friends on Sunday. Whether it is before or after service, look at the faces of those to whom you speak. Look for that smile and look for the folks standing by themselves at the edge of the crowd. It may just be that you could be the one to bring them into the Light and make that smile permanent.