The Kingdom of God Is a Retreat Center in the Storm

On Sunday as I perused Facebook, I came across this post by Bishop Mike Rinehart, who is a Lutheran Bishop of the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, an area which is undergoing historic flooding:

"The Synod Office will be closed tomorrow, and probably most of next week. We'll keep you posted.

Deans will have a conference call at 9 am tomorrow, Monday. The Disaster Response Team will meet at 10 am by conference call. Check your email for call in Info.

For those in the Galveston County Mainland, Zion Retreat Center is open and available. Beds are made. Chili is on the stove."

I deeply love the last sentence--what a vision of hospitality and welcome:  beds made and chili on the stove!

I think of the famous The Kingdom of God is like . . . statements of Jesus.  Here's a great metaphor for Kingdom Life:  The Kingdom of God is like a retreat center that's open in a storm, with beds made and chili on the stove.