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Message from Pastor Heather Geest

Longing for Diversity

By Pastor Heather Geest

I grew up in the town of Spicer, Minnesota. A few years ago, my parents relocated to the neighboring town of New London. This was a controversial move, because, although the towns share a high school, there is what you’d call a friendly rivalry. In fact, the unof- ficial Spicer town motto is: New London is nice, but Spicer is nicer!

Yes, as far as taunting town mottos go, Spicer’s is, in the tradition of “Minnesota Nice,” well… nice. But, starting a few years ago, as far as my parents were concerned, neither New London nor Spicer were nice enough — or warm enough — to stay in for the entire winter. So, they joined the migratory masses and began heading south to escape some of the upper Midwest’s most brutal weather. Now, Mom and Dad only skip out on one month of the ice and snow, so I’m not sure they’ve quite earned the right to call themselves “snowbirds,” but they’re on their way!

This year, they aimed their purple mini-van for the Sunshine State and settled in for their winter reprieve on the scenic beaches of Bonita Springs, Florida. The area is nestled in between the towns of Naples and Fort Myers Beach on Florida’s Gulf Coast. It’s a slow-paced, relaxing area: perfect for retirees who want to quietly enjoy the sun, sand, and ocean, but close enough to drive to some of the best snorkeling spots in the continental U.S. (also, where you can find the best key lime pie in the world) if you want some real adventure! I jumped at the chance to join my family for a week in this tropical paradise.

Well, when I got to paradise, guess what… I missed Davenport!

Now, while I pride myself on being one of “God’s Frozen Chosen” (aka a Lutheran from the upper Midwest), I did not miss the weather. And, as much as I love serving as a minister to all of you, I know how important it is to have times for retreat, and I did relish that. What I missed was all of you and the community that surrounds us.

Even before my flight landed at Fort Myers International Airport, I noticed something missing amongst all the sun-seekers surrounding me: diversity. The plane I was on, the place that we stayed, the restaurants we went to, the beaches we relaxed on were all filled with a lot of people who looked the same… the same ages, ethnicities, lifestyles, etc. Now, I don’t mean to criticize the snowbirds! Far from it: I loved every minute of my trip — just not as much as I loved returning home! I missed being amidst our congregation, worshipping and sharing our collective journey of faith with people of all ages. I missed the diversity of the community around our church, and longed for the opportunity to reach even further out to the people, so near the doors of our Sanctuary, but still not walking through them.

You see, my trip reminded me that I feel God’s presence, see God’s face, and believe the complex beauty of God’s love most clearly while surrounded by the diversity of God’s beloved creation.

Like many of you, I grew up singing Sunday school songs that celebrated the differences amongst God’s children. Young or old, black or white, male or female, gay or straight: We are all precious in God’s sight. Our God is so great and so vast that God cannot only create places as different as Bonita Springs, Florida, and Davenport, Iowa, but, also, people as different as you and me. And, yes, Jesus loves us — each and every one of us — exactly as we are.

Aren’t we blessed to have faith in that Good News and to have the opportunity to reach out — across our pews and outside our doors — to each other and share that love?

Pastor Heather Geest,

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