“Dad…” Patrick walked into the kitchen. “What’re you doing home?”
Alan stirred liquid creamer into his coffee. “A couple of permits got delayed. Had to shut down until tomorrow.”
“Oh.” Patrick started for the basement, then faltered as he glanced at his dad. All relationships required effort from both sides and Patrick admitted he hadn’t been putting in much more work than his father on theirs. He quietly cleared his throat. “I, uh… I checked out a new place for the center today.”
“Thought you already had one?” Alan mumbled as he took a seat at the table and opened the newspaper. Most people Patrick knew got their news online these days. His dad was old school and preferred the physical newspaper.
“Someone bought it. But there’s an old elementary school on the market down on the south side. It needs work, but it has potential.”
His dad grunted and turned a page.
Patrick shifted in place. “Do you, um… do you think, at Wednesday service, you could ask your church to pray about it? We could really use some high-end donors. Besides the down payment, it’s going to take a lot to fix the place up. We’re having the fundraising event this weekend, but we’ll need a lot of financial help.” His dad remained silent, reading his paper. “Could you… ask them to pray for us?”
Alan Weber raised his head and Patrick’s heart sank at the look on his face. “You want to open a center for kids who run away from home—fromparentswho are trying tosavethem. Why would the church pray for something that is doing these kids more harm than good?”
Patrick checked his anger, praying for a calm spirit. “Kids are beingabusedand kicked out of their homes by their parents—because they’re gay or trans. How is thatsavingthem? Other kids are forced into conversion therapy that makes them want to commitsuicide.How isthatsaving them? The suicide rate is highest among LGBTQ youthbecausethey are abused and rejected, not only by society in general but their own families and churches. Theyneeda place to go where they feel safe andwanted.”
“Maybe if they had no place to go, they would return home where they could receiverealhelp.”
You’re not listening!Patrick sighed. “If Jesus were here today—He would berunningthe center. And calling out people likeyouas hypocrites.”
His father stared at him, emotionless. “Well, then, if you’re so sure you have Jesus on your side, then I suppose he’ll take care of your financial problems… without the help of us hypocrites.”
Patrick shook his head slowly. “What you and so many other Christians seem to have forgotten… is it isn’t your place tofixpeople. Jesus didn’t tell his disciples to go out and fix people, or hate on them or tell them they’re going to hell—he said to go out and spread the good news of salvation, to spread theloveofGod.To give people a reason to come to God. He accepts everyoneas is.And if there’s something in their life that needs to be fixed—Hewill take care of it. But when you show only hostility and judgment toward others, it doesn’t make them want to get closer to God—it drives themaway.”
The man looked at him dully, unwilling to budge.
It isn’t your place to “fix” him—leave that to God.
Patrick exited the kitchen through the basement door.
