Last week, before I attended a meeting in Orlando, I had the joy of spending some time with my daughter, Becky, who is due to have a baby girl in mid-April. It was some of the most special daughter-dad time that we have had in several years. As you might expect, most of it was centered on the much anticipated arrival of the newest member of our family shortly after Easter.

After I arrived, I soon found that Becky had an agenda. While she and her husband, Austin, have checked out the Consumer Report ratings on strollers, she wanted to view them up close and see how they operated. Since Austin also is going to be doing a major part of the stroller detail, we were not going to make any decisions. Our objective was more first-hand observation than anything.

I’m not sure what I expected when I casually walked into my first Babies R Us Superstore. It was like I was being thrust through a time machine into the future unlike anything I had ever thought or even dreamed about. I couldn’t believe all that I was seeing. I know my jaw must have dropped as I hesitated for a moment. I felt like a dinosaur as I looked at the plethora of things which could be bought for both baby and mother. It had been more than 37 years since I had helped shop for what Becky would need when she was born. As I recall, we purchased what we needed for her in a little corner area of a large department store.

Becky immediately led me over to the huge section where they had strollers. At first it felt as if we were at a CarMax for babies. I couldn’t believe all the makes and models with various kinds of options. While I stood in shock as I viewed 3 and 4 wheel models of all shapes and sizes as well as multiple color schemes, recalling the research she had done, Becky led us to the highest rated models. The ratings were based upon the portable car carriers, which could be easily extricated from the rest of the stroller, as well as the frames themselves. I was quite certain the scientists laid off from our NASA space program must have collaborated on the design.

Once we found the two top-rated models, we had to test drive them. When that was completed, we tested the detachment mechanism for the car carrier. While I stood there befuddled trying to figure it out, Beck y swooped in and pushed a few levers and it was free. I was thrilled that she decided not to worry about what one had to do to fold them to put in a trunk.

After Becky had selected the model she liked best, she then looked at the colors that she thought would be best for the Central Florida climate. As had been true for the rest of the event, I quickly agreed with her assessment, realizing that I had no idea about what I was talking about.

After looking at cribs which could be converted into a child’s first bed, 3-storied “pack and plays,” each level age-appropriate, play yards, and a multitude of other equipment for babies, we left the building. I had just experienced the kind of “culture shock” that I had not known since I visited a remote area of Africa.

As we drove away, it suddenly hit me. Maybe that’s the kind of experience some people have as they come to a worship service on a Sunday Morning either for the first time or a several year absence. Sometimes, they look like deer in headlights, not knowing what to make of what they have just witnessed.

If we really care for people with the same kind of love Jesus showed while walking in the dust of this earth, we will not take anything for granted as we welcome and extend hospitality. Far too often, we are in our fellowship cliques and don’t even notice people who have come looking for something, but not sure what they have found.

I would challenge us to ask God to help us be open and sensitive to newcomers in our midst. What we have to offer is far more important and has eternal ramifications. I pray that wide-eyed people with us for the first time might feel like they have been embraced by our awesome God. God is counting on you and me to be his loving arms extended to all kinds of people.