“I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” -Ephesians 4:1-3
I love all things Star Wars. I love the amazing stories of that galaxy, far, far away. When I was a kid my friends and I spent hours playing with our Star Wars toys. I cannot begin to count the amount of lightsaber battles I was a part of in my own back yard. This is why I love this story about the Chick-Fil-A in Columbus, Georgia where the employees had a galactic battle with a little boy.
The Merrikens took their entire family for “Galaxy Night” at their local Chick-Fil-A. Their 8-year-old son, Caleb was excited to take part in the festivities. When they arrived, Caleb, who has spinal muscular atrophy and is confined to a wheelchair, found it difficult to join the other kids in the restaurant. Caleb was sad. He is a huge Star Wars fan. Sadly, he felt excluded from the evening’s events. Caleb’s mom was willing to duel with him and asked an employee to borrow his lightsaber for a moment. Caleb and his mom went outside to battle.
As Caleb and his mom were preparing to duel, they were joined by two worthy opponents. Two Chick-Fil-A employees, dressed in Star Wars costumes, intervened. It was a battle royal in the parking lot. Caleb fought as well as any Jedi. It became a night that Caleb and his family would not soon forget.
The employees at Chick-Fil-A created an extraordinary moment for Caleb. They took time out of their busy work to make one little boy feel very special. It was an act of kindness that went far beyond a few moments of playful sword fighting. It was an opportunity to make Caleb feel welcomed and accepted. Because these two employees were aware of the situation and were willing to be part of the solution, Caleb’s “Galaxy Night” was out of this world. When we are kind, when we are willing to share our time and gifts with others, we create a place for everyone to belong. Like the two Chick-Fil-A employees, we can be a force for good.
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
