Hidden in Plain Sight
She describes her conversion in February of 1999, like a train wreck or an alien abduction. Rosaria was a tenured professor at a prestigious New York University, the Dean of her department. Her speciality was Queer Theory and, being in a long-term lesbian relationship she enjoyed her loving community of gays, ‘trannies’ and sympathetic “heteros”. As a deacon in the local Unitarian Church, her responsibility was to welcome other homosexuals into their community.
By contrast, Rosaria’s few engagements with Christians were characterised by judgement, hatred and ignorance. But nothing prepared her for the vitriol she received when in 1997, as part of her research into Christian evangelicals, Rosaria penned an editorial on the ‘Promise Keepers’ movement. Rosaria received so much mail in response to her article that she decided to create one pile for ‘fan’ mail and another for ‘hate’ mail.
However, one letter defied categorising. It was a kind, well-considered letter from an elderly Presbyterian minister. He didn’t condemn Rosaria or even criticise her. He only asked her why she believed what she did and what were the presumptions she based her worldview. His letter confused her, and she decided to accept the retired minister’s offer for dinner with him and his wife. Over the next two years, Rosaria got to know the loving couple. Their compassionate but well-informed faith challenged her to study the Bible. She came to the conclusion that if Jesus was who he claimed to be, then her lifestyle, her relationships, indeed her life, needed to be yielded to Him.
Eventually, one surreal February evening in 1999, in the bedroom of the house she shared with her gay partner, Rosaria Butterfield knelt and prayed; “If you are there God, you are going to have to help me surrender my whole self to you. My mind, my loves and my sexuality.” If Christ was to be Lord, He had to be Lord of all.
The amazing thing about Rosaria’s saving testimony was that for a decade, Rosaria was ‘hidden in plain sight’, from the Christians in her community. Christians saw her as the ‘enemy’. Except for one elderly Presbyterian minister, who treated her as a loved and valued human being.
The truth is, everywhere, all around us are people who need to know Jesus. Of the nearly 60% of people who don’t see themselves as Christians, most have a favourable opinion about Jesus. Many would be open to change their beliefs if they were exposed to friends with sincere faith, who were willing to share their faith with them.
“It seems most Christians are also ‘hidden in plain sight’.”
In John 4, we read the account of the Samaritan woman who meets Jesus at the well. It’s likely that the disciples had passed her on the way into town to buy food. The woman was a moral failure in her community, hence the need to collect water in the heat of the day. When Jesus asked her for a drink, it gave her value. Giving and receiving hospitality was not just social acceptance, it was a sign of fellowship and friendship. Following a brief encounter with Jesus, the woman hurried back to town to tell them of the Saviour she had met and quickly brought back many to meet her.
While all this was going on, the disciples were clueless. The woman, indeed the whole town was ‘hidden in plain sight’. Jesus told the disciples, “Don’t say four more months ‘till the harvest. Look up; the fields are white unto harvest”.
It seems the biggest hindrance to reaching our friends and neighbours is our attitude. They are hidden in plain sight. Let’s look up. See the beautiful people around us. Listen to them. Know them. People need Jesus and the good news of the love and hope that is found in him.
Written by Grant Peterson
