Dear Harpeth Hills,

We are not here to see through each other. We are here to see each other through.

The young man stopped by the church office on a Sunday afternoon. He told a sad tale. Car broken down, family troubles, the usual. But he surprisingly did not ask for money. He just wanted to be baptized that evening. So that is what we did. Afterwards, I felt led to help him out and collected money for the young man. I felt so Jesusy.

One of my elders, Ted Preslar, told me in the foyer, “Chris, I think you got taken.” I was offended at his callousness and cynicism. (Ted was one of those Greatest Generation guys who became an elder at 39 and served for decades. He was a great leader.)

Two weeks later we received a letter from a church in Missouri. “We see from your bulletin that you recently baptized a certain young man. We thought we would let you know that we too baptized him at our church and gave him benevolence help.”

I wonder how many times that guy got baptized as he crossed the country? You have to admit, it was a pretty good scam. Get immersed on Sunday while making a few bucks. I wonder if he hit up two churches on the same day?

No doubt, people will take advantage. I was a sucker on that Sunday years ago and got played. But in my lifetime I more often remember the times of judging and seeing through people and critiquing and thinking I knew when I didn’t.

We are not here to see through each other. We are here to see each other through.

I love you.

-Chris Smith