Pastor's Nook
Pastor’s
Nook December 2010
My friend,
Alyssa, told me a story that was told to her by
a customer she was helping at work. The story
goes like this: A child and mother were
shopping before Christmas, and the child noticed
a very long line of people. The child asked the
Mother, "why are all those people waiting in
that line, Mama?" The Mother looked and
answered, “They are waiting to see Santa.’ The
child was puzzled at this and began to look
around, and finally asked, “Mama, where is the
line for Jesus?’” I told my friend that I loved
that little story so much; I would share it
again and again.
Where is the line
for Jesus? Do we look for him? Do we look for
ways to share a small but mighty love? Are we
aware of the many times he calls us to reach out
to one another with just one gesture, one word
of forgiveness, one gesture, one word of hope
shared with that other person who is alone, or
grieving, or in pain? Out of all the ways God
could have come to us, he came among the most
ordinary, mundane, fragile people. God came to
us through this tiny Child, a newborn unseen by
most in the midst of a huge crowd waiting in
line to be counted by the likes of Caesar. How
greatly Caesar pales in comparison to the true
Might of this Child whose love heals the most
broken heart and brings life to the dead. God
came amidst tired travelers converging in the
crowded streets of a place like Bethlehem,
because this is how God comes to save, not
beyond the reach of those who need saving
deliverance, saving hope, but here with us when
we are tired out, lost in our many
preoccupations, fretting and frightened. He was
born so far from his family’s home, born in a
crowd of travelers far from home.
God came to us
and still comes to us, even when we feel so
entirely lost in unfamiliar territory. Christ
Jesus was born in unfamiliar territory to make a
new home for all of us gathered in his saving
love, to bring us home to Himself in every
corner of this world. And his birth
announcement to you begins with, “‘Do
not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good
news of great joy for all the people:
11to
you is born this day in the city of David a
Savior, who is the Messiah,*
the Lord.
(Luke 2:10-11
NRSV)
Actually,
you do not have to wait in line for Jesus. He
has come here to find you, to amaze you with the
greatness of God’s saving love. Let go of all
the futile searching for various trinkets and
trophies, and instead go and kneel at the manger
of the baby named “God saves”, Jesus. Let the
wonder of God’s love take over your heart. Let
the miracle of this small Child changing all of
eternity dawn on you with sheer awe! Don’t miss
it because you were waiting in line for
something else.
Two boys
and a coat….
John
6:31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the
desert;
as it is written: 'He gave them
bread from heaven to eat.'
( New
International Version used by permission)
|
An Attitude of Gratitude…
Last weekend while helping with
a winter coat give-away, a young
boy wandered into the place
where the coats had been given.
Most of the coats were gone by
the time he arrived, having been
picked-over by a large crowd.
This little boy, maybe 9 years
old, came alone on a chilly
morning and he had no coat on
his shoulders, no jacket either.
There was one coat left from the
crowd that had come through the
doors earlier. One black coat,
worn to a frazzle so that there
was no w sheen on the sleeves
after years of being rubbed
smooth by wear and tear. But it
was a WARM coat, a heavy coat.
When that little boy saw that
coat, his eyes lit up and he
smiled and put it on his
shoulders and said, “Thanks!”
and walked out one very “happy
camper.”
The next day, having brought a
few of the left-over coats here
to church, I placed them on two
tables in the social hall so
that anyone coming to Community
Dinner, who may be in need of a
warm coat for winter, could find
one. Another little boy came to
supper with his family. He also
was in need of a warm coat for
winter. He found on there in
that pile of discarded and
picked-over coats which most
folks might not even want to
look at. He put on the coat,
and he was yet another very
“happy camper”.
|
That coat was too big for him
since he was just a little boy
and the coat was quite large,
but he liked it and he was
happy. Then he put his hands
into the pockets, as one does
with a winter coat.
Something was in that pocket. He
pulled out his hand and saw a
$10 bill. Wide-eyed, he
began to rejoice, telling his
family and everyone else he saw
there all about his newly
discovered pocket surpriseGod sent manna from heaven to
feed his people when they were
facing the wilderness. God fed
them. God still sends manna,
enough and more than enough as
long as we share and do not take
more so that others may also
have what is needed.
These two
boys understand gratitude. It
is not being thankful for what
we want, but being thankful for
what God has given. I invite
you to be thankful, whether the
pocket is full or empty-
thankful for the coat, the love,
the friendship, the Lord Christ,
the presence of God with you,
with us all.
Pastor Kris...... |
|
