Christmas Surprises

This Christmas I received the best surprise.  It was a beautiful day.  The air was crisp and cool.  The sun was shining.  My son was sleeping on the comfy couch and I was loading his stocking.  He had already "loaded" his Dad's and mine.  I spent a quiet time with the Lord preparing my heart and mind for worship that morning.  As I ventured down the hall to make coffee, my son greeted me with "Merry Christmas."  Two coffees made and we decided it was time to wake the man, when low and behold, he too came strolling down the long hall.  Have I mentioned my parsonage has a very long hall.  It has become essential in my exercise program for weight loss.  Praise the Lord for long halls.  Back to Christmas.  So we gathered and opened our stocking gifts enjoying the surprises on each others' faces.  Made our plans for the rest of the day.  My husband and I dressed for worship as our son began the preparations for dinner. 

Sunday School brought a wonderful time of sharing with those who attended.  I think the Dunkin Donuts helped with the festive feel.  Worship began with "Come on Ring Those Bells."  We sang carols, heard scripture, the choir sang, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day."  The sanctuary was filled with the joy and wonder of Christmas.  As we began to depart for our separate homes, I heard the sadness and fear that some members were carrying this season.  I again felt that paradox of the season, the tension between joy and sorrow, the tension between God's promise of peace on earth and a world at war, the tension between God's will for the world and our will within the world.

I gathered the poinsettia and headed for the long term care facility to deliver the flower.  As we (husband and I) walked down the hall wishing "Merry Christmas" to residents and staff, I realized how poorly we provide care for the aging, the challenged, and the broken people of our world.  Again, I was surprised by the paradox.  In the middle of the suffering there were people laughing and smiling and sharing Christmas joy and the promise that one day there would be no more suffering, no more disease, no more death.  It is just not today.  We remain in the season of Advent, waiting.

The resident we came to visit had family with her and was overjoyed for the visit more than the flower.  We stayed only a short time as food was before her and ours was waiting at home.  Driving up to the house, I noticed a car in the drive and thought, one more delay before I can feast with family.  I wondered what member and worried about what their crisis might be to arrive at my door on Christmas Day.  My heart was going out to their need, when I was asked by my husband if I knew anyone with a particular car.  I realized then that the brown vehicle belonged to my brother.  We could not park fast enough as far as I was concerned.  My son was opening the door ready to share the news of who was here, and laughed when he realized I already knew.  Running in, laughing, I hugged my oldest brother and really did not want to let him go.  Since he does not know about my long hugs, I released him rather briefly (for me). 

It was as if time stopped for me.  We ate the soup our son had cooked.  I prepared the stuffing for the turkey.  My brother agreed to stay until dinner.  Then we went into the living room, my brother ran to get his camera.  You see, I didn't want to open presents when there was nothing under the tree for him.  He insisted that he would be the camera man!  So we opened and he learned that camping was the theme of our Christmas with tents and slow cookers and open fire popcorn cookers, not to mention the roll up table or the ball for making ice cream without power or the screen house or ...yup a camping Christmas.  Laughter rang out and the turkey cooked.  As my brother asked us to hold up the gifts as he snapped the shots, I again remembered an old family tradition, pictures in our PJs holding presents.

I have come to realize that a late meal gives more time for visiting.  You see when the meal is ready to be served as the guests arrive, we focus on food.  Then we are all full and tend to seek out places to nap or have difficulty following conversations.  With the meal ended we also think about returning home.  I was surprised that waiting for the meal creates a very different event.  When we have to wait and wait and wait and wait, we focus on one another.  Could it be that is what Advent is for?  As we wait we focus our attention on the one for whom we wait?  Or are we called to focus on one another in the midst of the waiting?

In our waiting, we shared family stories and it felt so wonderful to be with my brother.  I again mentioned family reunion...we shall see if I ever get to blog about that awesome event.  It just be another paradox.  

When the red plastic stick rose up out of the turkey, we feasted and then all too soon I had to say good bye to my brother.  We had called our missing siblings and all were making merry, yet voiced a sadness over our being so far apart.  It is my prayer that the desire to unite as family grows so strong that the reunion comes into reality rather than remaining a dream.

As he drove away, we reentered the house and began to clean up the unwrapping mess, the debris from dinner and I finally put on some comfy clothes.

With our feet up, the animals all around (son brought his four cats for the holiday), we watched one of our Christmas DVD's.  This Christmas cocoon of love continued to envelope me and I fell asleep knowing the gift of love is God's greatest gift to us.  I am so thankful that God continues to pour God's love upon me through those God puts into my life.  My prayer is that I am one of those carriers, messengers of God's love and joy so that the world may know God's love, God's peace, God's joy and that God reigns!

Allow joy, allow love, allow God,
One of Many