After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." Revelation 7:9-10

Last Wednesday night I got to be part of a counter cultural activity.

The middle school youth from Peace meet at Arbor Gardens (Eyota's senior living apartment building) for their youth ministry activities. Every week we take some time to enjoy some activities with the residents of the apartments. We often play games, but last Wednesday I decided that it could be fun to have some 'reminiscing' time. Instead of just DOING things together, what would it be like to TALK with each other?

We spent the time answering questions like "What is the most interesting place you've ever visited," "What is your favorite parade," and "What is the favorite gift that you have ever received?" I was nervous as we started. Talking sounded like a great idea in theory, but what if everyone felt too uncomfortable to get into it? What if the youth found the whole exercise to be 'stupid'? What if the seniors got annoyed by the squirreliness of 6th grade girls? What if the two age groups didn't know what to do with each other? I prepared for disaster.

To my amazement, both groups, young and old, thoroughly enjoyed the conversation. The kids enthusiastically answered the questions (and had to be encouraged to pipe down a bit) and seemed to enjoy the senior's answers (they were VERY intrigued by the woman who had travelled to many places in the world). The seniors had fun pondering the questions...and smiled at the energy that the kids brought.

When you think about it, how often does something like this happen? We live in a culture that divides us based on age, race, political preference, income level, or profession. We watch news shows that agree with our perspective on the world. We surround ourselves with people like us...people who agree with us...people with similar life experiences as us.  We worship with people who look like us...who worship like us...who live like us. We don't often experience the diversity of God's creation.

As Revelation reminds us, as we stand before God's throne we don't simply join with people just like us. We join with young and old. We join with people who speak English, Spanish, German, French, Mandarin, and Dinka. We join with people with light skin...and with people of all shades of brown. We join with people who live in large houses and people who live in mud huts. We join a diverse family of faith in praising God!

Last Wednesday's youth event at Arbor Gardens was just a taste of what God has in store for us.  I felt blessed to watch as 8th grade boys and 75 year old women shared their very different life experiences. Each came with different perspectives on life...perspectives that are important to hear.

The church is one of the last places where generations still meet together. In that diversity, God gives us glimpses of that final day as we all join before God's holy throne, praising God!

How can we all learn to step out of our comfort zones to encounter people of vastly different ages, cultures, languages, or colors? We'll find that if we take the 'risk' we will be blessed to get to know some wonderfully different people.