There are those people who find it difficult to journey to Bethlehem this year! In our haste to make this journey, we tend to forget those, or pass by the people along the way...for whom a new beginning, is beyond their reach. I must be honest and let you know I am finding it more difficult this year...having lost my father about a month ago, I am filled with thanksgiving for the life and bond we shared, but also grieve his loss. The impending appointment with the Oncologist on Tuesday morning fills me with uncertainty. In the midst of these burdens, it was the "bug lady" as we refer to Christine here at the Towers who reminded me of the meaning of Christmas. She arrives once a month to debug our apartments.
Christine is a single mother with a 4 year old daughter! She talked about the the sense of wonder in Abbie's eyes on Christmas morning...and how she tries to make Christmas special, with small affordable gifts, but also how she and her young daughter bake things to take to other people. I was reminded as we chatted in passing, how easy it would be for Christine to be bitter, about Abbie's father running off, or that they had little compared to others...yet here was the 'bug lady' who smiles and reminds weary pilgrims along the road, that it doesn't matter how quickly we arrive in Bethlehem, but that we continue on the journey, at our own speed...Each journey is different, as it should be...
each person walks towards Bethlehem some forms bending low with sadness, or uncertainty...but there will be no POLL taken at the Manger...and amidst those people who journey, are not filled with the fact that they CALL themselves Christians...but that as they follow the Star, they remember that it was a baby, not a Democrat or Republican, but a small child which was born within each of us while we walked upon the journey...
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Dad, I'm so glad you were open to hearing her wisdom....it's all around us, particularly in those stunning Christmas hymns. We're having a bit of a downer evening--we were expecting a childcare night at church, but it was cancelled for some reason (and we didn't know this until we had driven there). Suddenly we were without our one evening to shop for Christmas without the kids, and had to quickly regain some perspective through our disappointment. Whether Christmas or any other time of year, it's riding the ups and downs of our experiences, our feelings, and always staying open for those moments of wisdom...typically from the teachers we least expect. You've been my teacher tonight!
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