For a long time at "The Old Chemist", Oasis Church in Southampton, each Wednesday a gentleman came to the doorway and just quietly stood. The team had first met him in lockdown when they served tea and coffee outside on the pavement, and many of the community would come to chat, including him.
The pavement was a safe place, but then when lockdown eased and everything moved back inside out of the cold, he was too nervous to step over the threshold. He clearly wanted to be with people and be part of something but just wasn't quite ready for that rather enormous step.
So, the doorway became his comfort zone. Close enough to be part of the action, but not quite ready to go all in.
“What did the Oasis team do?”, you ask. 😊
Nothing bold, they simply smiled, warmly welcomed him, got to know him, called him by his name, maybe had the same friendly conversation for the hundredth time but, most importantly, never gave up on him. No pressure, no persuading, and they definitely made sure he always had a cup of tea! They learned about his circumstances, that he lived alone, and day to day had few interactions with anyone wanting to talk to him.
The pavement was a safe place, but then when lockdown eased and everything moved back inside out of the cold, he was too nervous to step over the threshold. He clearly wanted to be with people and be part of something but just wasn't quite ready for that rather enormous step.
So, the doorway became his comfort zone. Close enough to be part of the action, but not quite ready to go all in.
“What did the Oasis team do?”, you ask. 😊
Nothing bold, they simply smiled, warmly welcomed him, got to know him, called him by his name, maybe had the same friendly conversation for the hundredth time but, most importantly, never gave up on him. No pressure, no persuading, and they definitely made sure he always had a cup of tea! They learned about his circumstances, that he lived alone, and day to day had few interactions with anyone wanting to talk to him.
They travelled that long road with him, and then one day, he stepped through the door. This moment seems unnoteworthy. But for him and the team, it was immense, and a story to tell. Sometimes the bravest step is walking through the door.
Today, he's a very definite part of the Wednesday community and that once-intimidating doorway is now the entrance to somewhere he belongs. He didn’t have to arrive ready to belong, he just needed to know everyone was waiting for him when he was.
Sometimes the biggest welcome isn't about getting someone through the door, it's about making sure they know it's always open.