Five & Five Group (1pm meeting)
Friendship House “202”
Fall 2009
I returned to the Five & Five Group but this time at another time in the day. A meeting designated by the name Five & Five meets at “202” every day of the week, three times a day. Each of the groups is, of course, an open discussion group and both times the room was filled with approximately thirty people. So I was surprised to see several familiar faces when I walked in the room. I could see how people could quickly find belonging and friendship even in the context of these open rooms.
The atmosphere of the room in some sense seems anything but focused. The door is constantly swinging open to allow a latecomer entrance or to allow participant to leave early. Occasionally someone would head for the door, phone in hand with the word “Hello” filling the room before the door closed behind them. These “rooms,” as they were often called during open share, were indeed open. They were seemingly open to anyone at anytime for any amount of time. And while the nature of the commotion would lead one to expect apathy, the tone for many was anything but. Faces would light up as the opening of the door would reveal an apparent old friend. And several who spoke, named these encounters as the source of their salvation from addiction. This meant something to many of them, something dear, something redeeming. In fact for some it seemed to represent exactly what we desire for our churches.
This thought was only confirmed by the “sermonettes” that I once again encountered. The room seemed at times filled with preachers, sharing pithy and profound statements. I imagine them to be what Acts describes of the early disciples. They weren’t formally educated but they spoke deep truth in simple and ear catching ways. I was amused when some of those familiar from my last time with this group wove some of the same anecdotes into their new sermons. It made me wonder how many of of the thoughts were original and how many were recited and repeated within these rooms. Perhaps it didn’t matter. I was likely overly concerned with discovering the human source of these sayings in order to give them due credit when in the end that was not at all the point.
Modern day philosophers and theologians gathered with eager hearers. among them were also those who toted court orders. Some wanted to be there. Others were forced to be there. Still others saw it simply as a way to give back and to serve (the twelfth step). In a way it indeed looked a lot like our churches. And the hope is that the truth could be sifted from the heresy for both were spoken on a regular basis within those walls so that the One who inspired the profundity of the former could indeed receive the glory that He alone is due.
Yes, in some ways indeed those “rooms” are like church. And while many within them speak of an unknown God (higher power) I am renewed in my conviction to share with those who do not know while also learning the lessons of brokenness and humility that come from being brought to your knees.
There is an authenticity among those who in their desperation have no more time for pretense. It is a spirit that I increasingly hear this next generation expressing as a craving. Our flashy, manicured and sanitized expressions of worship strike them as pretty but mostly empty. Whether correct or simply perceived they believe our worship services to be white washed, a cover up, incapable of dealing with the harsh and dirty reality that lies just below the surface of the carefully veneered facade. It’s not that we are not “hip.” Their accusation is mostly that we are not “real” enough.
In some sense they long for the gritty messy vulnerability displayed in an open AA meeting at 202. This rising generation seems to have a nose for “hypocrisy” and for “putting on a face,” though admittedly there are times when their nose deceives them into making false allegations. Still there call for a faith that genuinely intersects with the everyday is worth considering. And I find myself suspecting that they are not alone in their desire. Our church pews are indeed filled with those from every generation who long for, no need, church to be more than a show, no matter how well done the act. May we offer up our best to God but not at the expense of offering up our all.
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