| “Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.” |
| —Hebrews 13:1a |
Humorist Garrison Keillor has occasionally talked about what he calls “The Minnesota Long Good-bye.” It comes at the end of a social gathering where words of parting are first very reluctantly shared within the home.
Then, the guests and hosts move to the outside of the home and continue their conversation on the front step. Here, even a more protracted parting takes place.
Finally, the group moves to the vicinity of the guest’s vehicle. The guests reluctantly enter their vehicle and start the engine, while the hosts lean on the car door and say lengthy parting words through the open window of the car or truck.
In many cases, “The Minnesota Long Good-bye” can take 45 minutes or even longer before the guests put the vehicle into reverse and back out of the driveway. As they do, the hosts linger on the driveway, waving good-bye.
It seems to me that the writer of Hebrews employed a similar method. Though obviously not from Minnesota, the writer very reluctantly takes his leave with very warm and carefully chosen words. Here’s a sample of what I’m suggesting from Hebrews 13:1-3, 5-6, 9, 15-16, 20-21:
Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so.
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.
And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
As you read these words, doesn’t this seem very much like “The Minnesota Long Good-bye”? But, what can we learn from these words? We get to decide how we will treat others, especially our brothers and sisters in Christ. We can decide to carefully make every interaction an opportunity to share the love that God has placed in our hearts. Or, we can decide to live as we may always have lived: carelessly lashing out, justifying our behavior, even attacking those who are members of our community of faith.
I pray that the Holy Spirit will prompt us to let the love of Christ shine brightly through our lives. And, when we part for a season, let’s not be at all ashamed if our parting takes on the characteristics of “The Minnesota Long Good-bye.”
Originally posted on Thursday, February 12, 2015
