
Most of the time, we like an empty chair -- at the movies, in the bleachers, or just a place to rest while shopping at the mall. In many situations, an empty chair is a welcome sight. But not all empty chairs are a welcome sight. An empty chair around the dinner table can be a reminder of a loved one who has passed on. For them, the chair is a reminder that holidays and ordinary times will be missing a familiar face. For others, an empty chair in the bleachers is a painful message that a parent has missed another game. As a pastor, I see empty seats in the sanctuary and think of people. Seats are designed for people. And when a seat is empty, that is a visual reminder that someone is missing. It might be someone we know or someone we're just getting to know. It's also those in…
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