Recently on a lazy Saturday my family and I went to Chick-fil-a for lunch. As per our current routine, my husband went to place the order while my toddler and I settled into a booth. I couldn't help but notice a lady walking our direction exuding elegance in a pantsuit and matching accessories. My almost two year old must have noticed as well because she started waving at her and repeatedly saying "Hi!" The lady complimented, "She is so cute" and I thanked her. She sat directly behind us and moments later her husband came to join her.

I thought about how much joy I get seeing older couples at restaurants who seem to still be dating each other. I didn't intend to eavesdrop but I overheard things they said here and there since they were right behind me and I couldn't completely tune them out. Suddenly a younger man started to make his way our direction and he greeted the couple behind me as if they hadn't seen each other in some time and started to catch up a bit. In the excitement I suppose, they spoke louder and I really couldn't help but hear some of what they said even when I tried to busy myself to avoid paying attention.

In the course of their conversation I overheard them discuss people in their life who had been away from the church and came back around. "Yeah, the kids rebelled. Sometimes they do that you know! But God is faithful and hears our prayers." Much of what they said felt like altruisms or scriptural promises; growing up "in church" it's not like I hadn't heard these things before, but I needed to hear them just then. Sometimes you forget things you know to be truth because you are looking at your current situation. So these strangers were talking about someone else and they weren't talking to me but I felt encouraged by the things they were saying.

Soon one of the gentlemen began to say, "You and I, we don't go to a church, because the church isn't a building. We are the church! Wherever we go, we have to be the church!" Again this wasn't the first time I had heard this, but it struck me profoundly at that moment. Did these people realize that they brought the church into the restaurant at exactly that moment? They probably had no idea that I heard them talk about someone's testimony while I was worrying about someone in my family who I'm hoping will have a testimony. They had no idea that they were quoting scripture to each other in casual conversation but I needed to hear those words of truth at that moment. They couldn't have known that I actually missed Sunday sermons for months because my daughter was nervous about going to a new children's church and I missed hearing teachings. But they brought "The Church" directly to me just by believing they could be the church wherever they went.

Since that moment I haven't been able to get this notion out of my head that I need to be the church. I need to get out of my comfort zone of minding my own affairs and look out for opportunities to encourage another or help where help might be needed or appreciated. I also need to continue to foster a relationship with God that allows me to be the church, even when I don't know I'm doing anything profound.

There are plenty of people in this world who may or may not be attending a church but need the church. Meal trains bless people who are in a time of transition, recovery, or grief. A dinner invitation to someone who would otherwise be alone for dinner is a blessing. Making the first step to get in touch with a long lost friend can make them feel valued. Being quick to listen and slow to speak when someone needs to talk. Forgiving someone who hurt you shows them sacrificial love and that may be what they need to imagine how Christ loves them. There are so many ways to make others feel cherished and valued if you'll open your eyes, spirit, and heart to look for those moments to be the church.

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord," Ephesians 2:19-22

"Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up." Romans 25:2

"And let us consider how we may spur one another toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25