This Christmas the Methodist Church is sharing an amazing campaign called There is Room with a beautiful Spoken Word Video which you can watch here:
In response to this wonderful campaign I have put together a reflection for use in worship and events around Christmas. I hope the reflection is helpful to you and if you’d like to use it at worship or events you are welcome to do.
There is room?
You say there is room?
But all I hear is a big fat BUT
(And I was once told that everything before the BUT is bulls**t)
[this line might not be for public worship!]
You say there is room for me
and I want there to be room me
But, but, that big fat BUT
Where was the room for me
when I was struggling with my mental health
BUT you ignored me?
Where was the room for me
when I tried to come in my wheelchair
BUT you used a space I couldn’t get in?
Where was the room for me
when my marriage was falling apart
BUT you told me I should stay?
Where was the room for me
when I volunteered to help
BUT you asked the white man again?
Where was the room for us
when we wanted to get married
BUT you wouldn’t marry us because you were still talking about those sort of weddings?
Where was the room for me
when I wanted to express my neurodiversity
BUT you said this is how we do things here?
You say there is room for me
and I want there to be room me
But, but all I see and hear is that big fat BUT.
There is room period.
There is room because God is here, not there;
near, not far, because Christmas is coming and of course, there is room.*
There is room because God
And when for you and others,
there has not been room
when there has been a big fat BUT
that wasn’t God,
that was people who sometimes don’t understand that for God there is room,
for God there is always room
for everyone and anyone.
There is room for you,
for God loves you and through the baby born in Bethlehem, everyone has the power to become children of God, the power to know there is room and move in.
And the truth is,
those in the room need you
because without you the room is not complete,
without you the room does not shine with all the beauty of God’s diverse people.
There is room,
there is always room,
no BUTs, no ifs
there is room for you, for everyone,
because God has made room.
You can download a PDF version here.