Getting there?

She was chatty and friendly. It didn’t take long for her to mention her church participation and her daughter’s attendance at Wednesday night youth group. Cool, I thought. Maybe we can talk about Jesus!

When she mentioned that she was trying to give up smoking again, I asked her what had happened to the last try. “Oh, stress got to me,” she said. “I was doing really well but then I got super busy and stress killed me.”

I was sympathetic. “Isn’t it interesting to find out what we use for comfort,” I said.

“Yeah, if I quit smoking, I’ll probably switch to junk food!” she laughed.

I laughed with her. “Well, remember what you learn at church, too,” I added. “There’s comfort in your Bible, too.”

She nodded. “Good idea!”

Before long, I asked her what church she attended. “I haven’t ever been to that church,” I said. “How do people in your church get to heaven?”

“Just like everybody else!” she laughed.

Of all the answers I was waiting for, that one shut me down a little bit. “Which is?” (Do you ever wish you had 24 hours to think over your next words?)

She was a little tongue-tied. “Uh, you know, doing good things, being nice to people, trying hard.” She frowned in thought. “You know, not sinning very much.”

“Do they talk about Jesus at your church?” I asked.

“Oh, yes!” she said and then we were interrupted and never came back to that thread of conversation.

I mussed with her worldview a bit. I could tell she was a little unsettled. I’m still stewing over our exchange, wondering what I should have said differently. I don’t know if I planted a seed or missed an opportunity.

But I am still mulling over the knowledge that a regular churchgoer in my hometown hasn’t heard that getting to heaven is easier than being nice to people and trying to minimize the sins.