I happen to be one of those people not yet weary of the flash mob, because each one has its own personality and reason for being made. The videos also have a way of capturing simple joy that bubbles up from inside. This one, filmed inside one of the world’s busiest airports (new kind of filming at airports now) called “Welcome Home” is the happiest yet.
Heathrow is not an airport with specially designed lighting or strategically placed scents to calm the weary travelers. There are no rocking chairs lining the sparkling windowed walkways. It is a huge, utilitarian, florescent glare airport with doors that seem like hospital operating rooms in a soap opera; and Customs is a no-nonsense, no-smile zone. So it would make sense that worn out, many international travelers arriving from all over the world, would bang through those doors with a somewhat grim face lined with exhaustion, looking for a ride, anticipating a long train ride home, to their hotels or to business meetings, unlikely to be expecting any type of greeting before they arrive at their destination.
I wonder if we took video cameras into many American churches on a Sunday morning if we might not see some similar tired faces? A long work week, a job loss, the family fight while getting ready for church, facing a holiday alone for the first time, a troubled student, a bad committee meeting—all these things and others may be on the minds of those entering the church doors, either out of habit, need or perhaps off the street in desperation. Are the doors already open, friends standing at the ready with outreached arms and faces glowing? When a student slowly walks into a youth room or class, does he or she instantly feel like Norm in a “Cheers” episode because so many people seem to know his or her name? Is there a body of people rehearsed and prepared to greet each one in such an array of styles that every kind of person feels instantly warmed and welcomed?
We don’t know whether a theatre group was organized or auditions happened to make the Heathrow video. We have seen enough of them to know now they are well-structured and well-planned in order to look spontaneous and free. However, we can never, ever anticipate enough the response and reaction of those who actually experience the event as it is happening, as the camera takes our eyes to the huge smiles, the streaming tears, the uncertain glint turning into the, “I get it” grin so that we, too, are completely caught up in the moment of absolute wonder that such easy joy exists and want to be there when it happens again.
The great thing about the body of Christ is that we are made up of those who make others feel welcome alongside those who most need the welcoming. Many times with the same seemingly random abandon, the roles reverse. Even when we watch this more than once, our response can change from watching the faces of those arriving and being greeted to those doing the welcoming. We can’t help but notice those on the sidelines, unsure whether they should be laughing or trying to get out of there as fast as possible.
People viewing such videos rarely ever know the name of the person who created it, but we do know the name of the One who calls us the body. He greets us every time with that same face; same joy; same loud, boisterous, happy singing and sense of surprise. When we plan, prepare and open our doors, do we call for others to enter in with that overwhelming welcome that takes their breath away in His name?
“And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them! And they were sore afraid…And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings o great joy, which shall be to all my people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ, the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, and good will toward men.'”
“That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”
—Linus Van Pelt
