Let’s Mix and Mingle

One of the highlights of our 60+ active adult community is the Thursday night “Mix and Mingle.” It’s dinner with a theme — a Luau, Western night, or a 50’s Sock Hop (poodle skirts included). But the real draw? The people.

The mix is the food and fun. The mingle is where the blessings happen — hearts connecting, stories shared, asking how a stay-at-home friend is doing and laughter echoing off the walls.

Now, let me be honest. I wasn’t always a mingler. Once upon a time, I was more “sit quietly in the corner with my salad” than “pass the chips and share your life story.” But something changed. Or rather, Someone.

Jesus.

He was the ultimate mingler. I met Him as a child through those flannel board stories in Sunday School — Jesus with His arms outstretched, always walking toward people, never away. And now, through “The Chosen,” I’ve seen Him with sandals dusty, eyes tender, arms open. He mingled with the hurting, the doubting, the overlooked. He didn’t just show up — He engaged.

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” (John 1:14)
Jesus didn’t hide out in heaven. He moved into the neighborhood.

But nowadays? We retreat. We wave from our cars, skip the conversations that stretch us. Somewhere along the way, we traded community for convenience.

“Let us not give up meeting together… but encouraging one another.” (Hebrews 10:25)

I’m thankful to live in a place where mingling is encouraged — but even more thankful for the reminder that mingling is ministry.

A smile across the table or the sidewalk. A gentle “How are you, really?” These are the seeds of grace we scatter when we choose connection over comfort.

Because someone is craving what God has put in you and me. And just like Jesus, we don’t get to keep it to ourselves.

So let’s grab our name tags and pull up a chair. Let’s mix. Let’s mingle. Let’s minister.

Jesus didn’t hide from people — He mingled. And so should we. Let’s do life together.