Where You At?

Bulletin Article 12/18/11

“Where you at?” Over the past few years, this phrase has been used in TV commercials, advertisements, song titles and, in some cases, every day conversation. Instead of “Where are you,” this phrase has become pretty popular. Personally, as someone who has written lengthy theses for both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, if I were to construct a sentence in that way, my advisors and professors would rip the paper into pieces. Of course, they would then lovingly instruct me on the correct way to form a sentence.

How quick we are to criticize or judge others based on what they say or do. How many of us place expectations on everyone else in the world based on our personal life experiences? We constantly talk about the way people are supposed to be. “Why doesn’t my son like to play sports?” “Why is my daughter failing math and nothing else? She must not be working hard enough.” “That man only comes to Mass on Christmas and Easter, where is he the rest of the year?” When we place expectations on our family, friends, and neighbors, we try to place them where we want them instead of meeting them “where they’re at.” To meet them where they are would mean that we would have to understand their motivation or lack thereof in instances such as these. Not all boys like sports. Students can easily put a subject they don’t like on the back burner if they are involved with so many other activities they enjoy. Perhaps the man coming to Mass only once or twice a year has to work two or three jobs to support his family or he only comes to this particular parish for holidays. Things aren’t always the way they seem to be on the surface.

One thing we can learn from the incarnation, Christ becoming like us, is that God meets us where we are. Our God humbled himself into the form of a little baby so he could truly empathize with us and understand our human condition. As he matured as a man and began his public ministry, he always displayed great understanding of all people—even those who would put him to death. He never condemned a person for having little faith or not understanding the law; he loved them and was moved with pity for them. He didn’t condemn those who were condemned by the world. His overwhelming love for them coupled with his understanding of their individual conditions moved him to invite them into a deeper, more profound existence. We are called to be imitators of Christ. However, we need to remind ourselves that we are not Him. We are not the judge. We are not the master of the universe. We do not understand everyone else’s hearts. Rather than ripping people apart, let’s lead them towards healing. Let us meet people where they are so that Christ can enter into their hearts and transform their lives. Yes, brothers and sisters, Christ will come again. He knows where you’re at. Do you?