I is for INVITATION

A good friend invited us to a gala dinner the other night. It was a wonderful evening, a chance to catch up with a few friends, learn about how others are committed to helping the underprivileged in a third world country and maybe in some way help their cause through our giving. It was also a chance for the missus to get out the glad rags and, for once in her life, see her dearly beloved dressed up in a bow tie and black suit. A couple of things I will treasure about the evening. First the generosity of our host in inviting us as his guests. I will always remember him for that gesture and I know I can never repay him in full for making us part of his evening. But secondly, I have come to realise that at such a gathering, the right company at your table is of utmost importance and again he had thought that one out perfectly for all were at ease with each other and as they say the 'craic' was good. But I reflected on many such occasions in the past whether at weddings or similar gala functions, where my immediate neighbours were less talkative or approachable or maybe it was just me who didn't send out the necessary signals. Anyway, for whatever reason, such situations tend to develop into nothing more than 'small talk' and the wait for the next course can be very very lengthy.

A few years ago, wife got an invitation to Buckingham Palace with a group of teachers on the strength of a good inspection we had received at school. It was a wonderful experience to get beyond those famous gates and right into the heart of British Royalty and she had the pictures to prove it including a wonderful shot of one of the antiquated yet ornate Royal toilets, complete with large wooden seat.

I think some of the nicest invitations are those that come unexpectedly. Like most people we have had our share of wedding invites and after wedding parties. Both differ greatly in that those who have been at a wedding service and reception all day, often find themselves starting to flag by late afternoon and many go home before the evening party has really got into full swing, while those who are arriving for the after party are all set for a night's revelling. But sometimes it's hard to gel into an evening do, especially if the majority of guest are strangers to you. Anyway, it's still nice to be invited for there are many who would love to go but never receive the invitation. When I was young, most invitations either arrived at the house in an envelope or else it was a verbal invitation by phone or in person. All these years later, while those still happen, we are more likely to receive an invite in a text message or an email, but no matter what way it arrives, it always requires a response of some sort. The thing about invitations is that you don't actually have to accept any of them but sometimes there are those that you just don't want to say no to. And then there are others that you feel obliged to accept because of the nature of the invite or the person who sent it.

Of course the most important invitations is the one that Jesus issues to everyone, a universal invite in Matthew 11 v 8, when He says, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.' But He does more than just invite us to come to Him when He says in Revelation 3v20 'Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.' It's not often someone arrives at you door waiting to be invited in, but when they carry the greatest message of salvation, isn't it time to think about sending out the invitation?