Keep coming back

So ends week three at the halfway house.  The men work during the day, in recovery, and live in the house, with support, in recovery.  I continue to think about lessons for the Church in the experience.  The men here have chemical addictions, but the Church has long been noted for its hospital aspects.  We are all addicted to something.  As long as we are living in this world, we are in need of Christ, and we need each other.  In AA, Step One is admitting we are powerless over addiction (the drug, the behavior) in ourselves, whatever it is.  No, Church and AA aren*t the same thing.  Still... I wonder what would happen if we all held hands and said, after the dismissal, looking into each other*s eyes, Keep coming back.

Keep coming back

It*s said at the end

of every Anonymous meeting.

I listened to it even in group

Last night.

There are lines in every group

Which grow fresh or stale

In the naming.

Today it echoes

In my head.

Keep Coming Back.

For community

For support

For one more day of possibility.

In the Church we end the service

 with a dismissal

Go into the world

We say

To love and serve the Lord.

I wonder what would happen

If we added

Keep coming back.

The dismissal, after all,

Does not end the community,

Just this one time of gathering.

Maybe we believe it is implied,

But still:

Keep coming back:

For support

For love

For a kick in the pants

For one more day

Of possibility.

For life lived

Fully.