The Mystery of Us | Heaven Is Other People

What does it really mean to show up for one another? In this UCC Medina sermon, Rev. Dr. Luke Lindon reflects on Medina Pride, a young man searching for belonging, the loneliness that divides us, and the quiet power of presence. Drawing from Noah Kahan’s song “The Great Divide,” Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, and the Road to Emmaus, this message explores how misunderstanding can separate us and how love slowly teaches us to cross back over. From shared tables and long conversations to forgiveness, reconciliation, and simply being present, this sermon is a reminder that community is not built in grand gestures alone. It is built when we listen a little better, stay a little longer, and help one another remember they belong. Don’t wait to connect. Heaven may be closer than you think. Works Cited Jean-Paul Sartre, No Exit, trans. Stuart Gilbert, in No Exit and Three Other Plays (New York: Vintage International, 1989). Thurman, Howard. Meditations of the Heart. Boston: Beacon Press, 1953. *To support our mission to create more podcast content like this ⁠Donate using our secure portal: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://onrealm.org/uccmedina/-/form/give/now⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ OR Texting UCCMEDINA to 73256 Who is the Rev. Dr. Luke Lindon? The Rev. Dr. Luke Lindon serves as the senior pastor of United Church of Christ Congregational in Medina, Ohio. Prior to coming to Medina in April 2017, he was the associate pastor at Sylvania UCC in northwest Ohio. Luke earned his Doctor of Ministry through the Methodist Theological School in Ohio with an emphasis on transformational leadership in 2022. His thesis was on adaptive leadership and ecclesiology. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Lancaster Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania and his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ohio University. Before seminary, Luke worked as a tool and fastener sales representative and store manager for Capitol Building Supply in Washington, D.C. Luke and his wife, Kate, have two children. Luke grew up in Dennison, Ohio, and enjoys sports, music, and Dungeons and Dragons. He is a member of the UCC Next Generation Leadership Initiative.