THE SPIRIT OF GIVING AT CHRISTMAS

 

THE SPIRIT OF GIVING

My daughter walked my five-year-old grandson over to a small neighborhood playground a couple of years ago just before Christmas.  Of course, he was most excited about the advent of Santa’s annual arrival on Christmas morning, as he had selected a couple of toys from a Holiday catalogue and he knew Santa wouldn’t disappoint.

When they arrived back at the house, he was visibly upset which was out of character, especially compared to when he had left home.  When I inquired, she mentioned that a young teenager had driven past the playground and shouted “Santa isn’t real!” within earshot of the kids. Some people believe God isn’t real.

I remembered having the same dilemma years ago when school children were spreading the same rumor.  Fortunately, we had prepared for the moment and explained that Santa is all about the spirit of giving, just like God.  And he has many helpers that are on his team, like the Santa in parades or the one at the department store where we get our picture taken.  We give presents to one another including strangers because we too like the good feeling of Christmas when we give to others.

My grandson understood that reasoning and immediately wandered off to play with a couple of toys that were still present from Christmas’ past.  All was forgotten on Christmas morning when he excitedly opened that one present from Santa which he had requested from the catalogue. 

And we too were uplifted by revisiting the spirit of giving and celebrating the greatest Christmas gift of all from the God of all creation—God’s gift of his son for the redemption of all mankind!  Just as folks can see the Spirit of Giving through Santa, they can see the Spirit of God through our own generous actions!  We remember the words of Isaiah 9:6, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”   

When you generously give the gift of giving,

And expect nothing in return,

You’re not doing business,

But spreading Christmas joy at every turn.

 

And when we leave this world,

For a better home some day,

Some of the things we’ll take with us,

Are joyful memories of things we gave away.

 

—Inspiration from The Christmas Coat

HURRICANE HELENE

SNOWBOUND, Jamestown, NC

During this thankful and joyful time of the year it’s very easy to overlook all of the beautiful blessings we Americans have in this country which is always in motion. I, along with other concerned Americans, watched hurricane Helene ravish the western mountain communities in North Carolina. Once the higher elevations became saturated in a thousand-year deluge, the surface gave way to gravitational pull and sent rushing water with trees and boulders to obliterate everything in its path. Many people didn’t survive and many others are now living in tarp covered, damaged buildings and tents where December temperatures are now dropping below freezing.

I woke up to chilling temperatures this week when a critical part in my HVAC unit failed. I had become so accustomed to its silent presence that I no longer thought much about it. And it was also a wakeup call not to forget all those fellow neighbors in the high country who are living a nightmare 24/7 and still need all of our assistance right now and for the months to come!

COSETTE, DON’T BLINK

COSSETTE, Jamestown, NC

I found myself sitting in the third row at church this morning as we enjoyed a special service around the popular Christmas Lessons and Carols cantata, involving a wide cast from our members and others.  Its always a special treat when our children’s choir is involved and today was no exception.  As the children entered close to me, the "littlest angel" emerged in the procession wearing a frilly red holiday dress and a serious look until she spotted her parents sitting in front of me.  Then she relaxed and was almost hidden by her peers on the front row, as they turned to the congregation.

What struck me almost immediately was the connection my memory made with the little girl in the logo for the French musical Les Miserables , featuring Cosette.  Our little Cosette performed admirably with her parents in close view and joined them later for the rest of the service.  I serendipitously met them leaving the back entrance as I had paused to hold the door for those leaving.  I couldn’t help but catch the father’s eye and mention that I enjoyed his little girl’s performance.  I noted that my own little girl had just turned forty so, “Don’t Blink!”  I think he may have missed the point for a second and then nodded with a smile as they exited. 

Little children are a beautiful and integral part of the Christmas story.

 

DISTASTFUL JOBS

DEER CROSSING, Greensboro, NC

I finally tore into a job today like ripping off a bandage!  It’s the most distasteful job that I dislike the most which is editing out accumulated stuff that I have been hoarding for many moons.  And sadly, I have a bonus room that works all too well for that job.  It’s kinda like a job that expands into the time allotted, but this involves space. 

I’ve used a great reason to procrastinate over the years when I tell myself that I will tackle the job once the weather cools down towards winter.  That allows me to only confront myself just once a year for a limited time.  However, I’ll have to admit that it’s also one of the most liberating things we humanoids can accomplish once it’s finished.  So, I dropped off the last castoffs at a local Goodwill and treated myself to a Starbucks Moca and one of my favorite drives to nowhere in particular. 

I was enjoying a pleasant drive in the bright sunshine and as I passed a Deer Caution sign, I immediately switched into my instinctive hunter mode.  As I rounded a curve, two deer and a woodland creature almost crossed my path and interrupted my Zen mood, but I was able to avoid them and continue celebrating my liberation!  

 

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS AND ACTION

High Country Flood, Western NC

High Country Freeze, Western, NC

I’ve noticed that more folks are recently challenging remarks by others during troubled times when they remark “Our thoughts and prayers are with you.”  They cry for that plus action!  That phrase has almost become cliché in our culture and folks are noticing.  The recent rampage of Hurricane Helene and the resultant response demonstrated that prayers and action go well together! 

A tremendous number of folks have been left homeless with nothing of material value including basic necessities after Helene hit the Western North Carolina mountain country.  I checked the weather there this morning and now found a freeze warning for the higher elevations and the season’s early snowfall there.  That’s made the situation more dire.   

Our world is presently in turmoil given the devastation of Biblical hurricanes, lengthy wars in Ukraine and Israel, a contentious presidential election with two attempted assassinations, a recent worldwide pandemic, import dock strikes, atomic weapons in too many countries, famines, etc.  After the fall, all creation groans to be redeemed and renewed, along with the rest of humanity.  We need God and prayer with action now more than ever.

A few days ago, I came across a social media post by a member of the United Cajun Navy, crediting Adam Dufour, about his experience upon returning from the area to volunteer in assisting the folks up in the mountain country.  I extracted this short summary:

“Massive amounts of water flowing down the steep slopes caused mud slides, that snowballed into avalanches of liquid earth, filled with huge trees, rocks and other debris, cascading down the mountains at 40+ MPH and anything man made in their path was annihilated. People were helping complete strangers, or their friends and neighbors. This is the heart and spirit of my America, and it's still beating strong.   I have witnessed countless people who have suffered terrible loss, who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ, and are still thankful, and praising His name.” 

I was selling pumpkins at our church front yard when a very young, modest couple and their cute little two-year-old daughter in a seasonal orange dress arrived.  They spent time taking photographs and strolling around the patch and then wheeled a red Flyer wagon up with two $15 pumpkins.  The young man noted that he had just returned from the mountains with a group that was clearing roadways for people.  He then handed me two $20 bills and asked me to put the change in a Hurricane Donation jar on the table.  He had just been a witness to the need.

Our congregation will be providing two portable gas generators and delivering 200 requested sleeping bags to a UMC church in Banner Elk so far.

Karl Barth was right when he observed: “To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.”  This troubled world, including the Holy Land and our western North Carolina mountains, is definitely worthy of our prayers and our actions!  The floods that have ravaged our state remind us of our strength.

“We may bend but we never break.”  When the night is dark, be the star that ushers us home.

GEESE UNDER HARVEST MOON

GEESE UNDER HARVEST MOON

Looking back over many moons of my life, it occurred to me that of the millions of images I’ve observed, the ones that still emerge are the ones that accompany impressionable feelings. Those feelings have been both good and bad.  I still remember entering a Thermodynamics class on campus as another student walked by and announced that President Kennedy had been assassinated.  And I remember an evening at the outset of duck and goose hunting season when the night wind switched to the north and I heard the gathering call of wild geese overhead.  

A young midwestern boy stepped outside in the sudden cold weather and gazed skyward.  And as the gathering dark clouds parted to reveal a bright harvest moon, the recognizable V formation of migrating geese passed under it, plaintively calling to one another as the bright city lights illuminated these adventurous voyagers.  I was accompanying my father and uncle on my first hunting trip in the morning and sleep was difficult that night, as the moonlight intermittently shone through my bedroom window and the calling geese never ceased.

 

TOBY AND CLINT ON LIFE

Toby and Clint

I made an interesting connection this morning with myself at almost 82, Toby Keith, the country singer who recently died of stomach cancer at 62 and Clint Eastwood at 93, the Dirty Harry police officer and western movie actor.  What triggered my interest were these thoughts from Max Ehrmann which I stumbled across on social media:

Take kindly the counsel of the years,

Gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,

Be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,

No less than the trees and the stars;

And whether or not it is clear to you,

No doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

It seems Toby Keith found inspiration from a casual conversation with Clint Eastwood years ago on the golf course in California.  Keith asked the then 88-year-old actor “What keeps you going?” and he replied “I get up every day and don’t let the old man in”.  So, Keith wrote the hit song by the same name and Clint put it in his movie, The Mule.  Toby also recorded the hit country song As Good As I Once Was which included the lyrics:

I ain't as good as I once was,
I got a few years on me now.
But there was a time back in my prime,
When I could really lay it down.

I ain't as good as I once was,
But I'm as good once as I ever was.

And the internet is full of infamous quotes from Clint’s movies including a couple from the Dirty Harry collection that includes “A man’s got to know his limitations” and “Go ahead and make my day!”  I say all this because the one thing in life I have in common with these entertainers is the reflection of many moons and the game of golf.  I’ve recently faced my mortality and years on the planet, swallowed my man pride and moved up one tee box to make my day, i.e., knowing my limitations.  And I generally only play once a week to satisfy my aching joints and muscles, i.e., but I’m still as good once as I ever was and I don’t let the old man in!   

Yeah, old age ain’t for sissies, but it’s a gift that’s denied to many.  So, “get up and go outside”!  Celebrate all the full moons that you’ve experienced on a late, chilly, fall night as calling wild geese fly overhead.  And “toast each sundown with wine.  Don’t let the old man in.”

https://youtu.be/yc5AWImplfE?si=ivzsSvUni0UJ8E26