Christmas 2011

Christmas 2011

I know who those angels were singing about that night so long ago in Bethlehem, because I saw the one they were singing about. Yes, I saw the very same one those shepherds saw that night. And I know someone else who saw him too. It was around Christmas time of last year. That was when I saw him. And, I was not the only one who saw him; there was another lady and she saw him too.

Yes, I think I saw Jesus, and I am telling you this in the hope that that lady who saw Jesus might know it and come forward. Her presence in my life, for a brief moment, was my best Christmas present I could ever have received.

It was the week after Christmas and, as I do nearly every morning, I was out early for my two-to-three mile brisk walk. That day I walked out West Main Street and back again. If anyone has read one of my book, they know that always I look down while I walk because I have only one good eye , and that makes for poor depth perception. Unless I pay close attention, I may mistake a step up or down for a crack in the sidewalk or the pavement. Years ago, I learned that walking with my eyes down results in finding many pennies on the ground. So I started to pick up those pennies when I found them. I would use it as an occasion to thank God for the gift of the penny, with a prayer I developed. Each time I would find a penny, I would say, "Thank you, dear God, for the gift of this penny. It is a free gift from you, just like everything I have and am. May I use this penny, along with all that you have given me so generously, to know and do your will." Turning the finding of a penny into an opportunity to offer a prayer of gratitude has become part of my daily walk.

On that particular day in the week of Christmas, it was bitter cold, about twenty degrees, and the wind was strong, gusts over twenty-five miles per hour. I was cutting across a grocery store parking lot and coming around behind the McDonald,s on the corner. My eyes were full of tears from the effects of the strong and cold wind blowing in my face. That was exactly when, there before me in the McDonald’s parking lot, I spied a penny on the ground. I bent over and picked it up and said my usual prayer of gratitude to God. Then I took off my gloves to wipe the tears from my eyes before continuing my walk out West Main Street. And that was when she came up to me – this other person, this lady.

She was driving a white SUV or van, like what we called a "station wagon" when I was younger. She rolled down the window when she came up beside me in the parking lot. And then she spoke to me. "Are you alright?" she asked. It took me a moment to focus due to the tears in my eyes. And even before I could actually see her, I said that I was fine, just that I had something in my eyes from the cold wind. I thought she was concerned about the wiping away of my tears. But she said it again, "Are you alright?" That was when I saw her. Her hand was extended out the window toward me. She was offering me a five-dollar bill. I had thought she was concerned about seeing my tears, but she realized otherwise. She saw me pick up the penny and she thought I was a very poor and needy person. (Granted, I don’t dress too well when I go out for my cold morning walks.) I was embarrassed; I repeated that I was ok, just that I had something in my eyes. It still did not quite register to me what she was doing.

But then I looked right at her, and she looked so kind, and spoke to me with such sensitivity so as not to make me feel bad or lowly. She spoke to someone she thought was in great need, and she did so with gentleness and respect. It was like like Jesus treated people, especially those who were poor and outcast from society. As I walked away from her, I said another prayer of gratitude to God, not for the penny, but for the gift of love that exists in our world still. I said another prayer because I saw Jesus. Yes, I did. I saw Jesus in that cold morning air.

I hope she hears this. She was, despite my initial embarrassment, the best Christmas present I could ever have received. I know with greater certainty that the Savior whose birth we celebrate is still here with us, in us, and is bringing his kingdom to its fullness through people like this lady who made it clear that Jesus’ words are true: And behold, I am with you always until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20b).

She gave without counting the cost. She gave because She saw a need. It was the end of the calendar year and it was a time when many people give to charity. Perhaps there are some whose giving is motivated my tax advantages. But this lady gave out of love, a love that Christ Jesus taught us. If your end-of-year giving was done for tax purposes, consider this dear lady who looked like Jesus to me, and try giving without asking for a receipt for your taxes. You may just inspire others to pray in gratitude to God; you may help others to have a greater faith in the reality that Christ’s kingdom is coming into its fullness in the world today.

Know what is so amazing? Not that I saw Jesus. But it was this: I think that dear lady thought she saw Jesus too. And the king will say to them in reply, Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40).

I wanted to tell you this, because I think that this Jesus whom I saw last Christmas is still here, right around the corner, in your worksplace, your school, your home, and in your heart.

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.