What are You Looking for This Christmas?

One of my favorite traditions at Christmas - at least for the past seven or eight years - has been to utilize a "Jesse Tree" for my devotion time. Each day of December up until Christmas is used to reflect on the Old Testament prophecies and events that point to the birth of Christ. I have a wall hanging of a tree, and I use handmade ornaments that depict the particular story for the day.

Today, the focus was on the story of Simeon and Anna, and how the Holy Spirit revealed to them that the tiny baby in the arms of his mother, Mary, was the Messiah for Whom they had waited most of their lives.

As I read the selection from Luke 2.25-38, the words "looking for" jumped out at me, for they were used in the account of both Simeon and Anna. I imagined that every day Simeon would watch young couples with infants coming to the temple to make the required sacrifice, wondering "Is this the Child, could this be the One?" God had promised him that he would not die until he saw this Holy Infant. Every day, the widow Anna worked in the temple, praying, fasting, and serving. At age 84, the hope of the coming Messiah was all she looked forward to.

With all the coming and going through the temple - the place you would think the highest level of expectancy would be - no one noticed when the couple of lowly means walked into the courtyard and up the steps of the majestic temple with their little unassuming bundle, and two birds as an offering of purification for Mary. As Simeon cut and discarded the foreskin of the screaming little boy, who knew that prophecy begining with Abraham was being fulfilled?

Simeon knew...clutching this child to him tightly, he passionately exclaimed that he was ready to depart this earth in peace, "For my eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou has prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel."

No doubt, the crying reached the near deafened ears of the old prophetess who had spent all these years fasting and praying in the temple, and she rushed to give thanks to God for this moment that Redemption Himself was pronounced to be "Jesus" - "Jehovah is Salvation!"

Why these two simple and elderly servants? Why were they given the inside scoop on this mystery? Because they were both "looking" for Him.

We will see Him too, this Christmas and all year long, if we are looking for Him. I wonder how many of us really celebrate the season in a large way - with all the trimmings and trappings - and yet do not see Him.

I looked up a couple of words and phrases in these passages to find the Greek meaning:
"Looking for" (used in connection with both Simeon and Anna)- "to await with confidence and patience"
"consolation" - "comfort"

...What are you looking for this Christmas?

What a week! I feel I have run an emotional marathon, but the pace is different from a run. With emotions, I tend to sprint up the mountains of elation and joy, and then try to put the brakes on going into the valleys of despair and confusion. This type of marathon defies the laws of physics.

This week I have talked with a man outside our ministry in the dumpster looking for materials to board up his windows. He believes people are trying to break in and kidnap him for his connection with the Grateful Dead. Such a kind spirit. As he turns away, he looks into my eyes and says "I love you." Our house has been filled with groups from churches organizing our clothes closet and cooking meals for us. We have had the angelic music from a harp, and the soft cries of a woman who has been told by her family that they are tired of her, and dumped her off at the shelter on Tuesday. There have been gifts given, and songs sung. Laughter and hope, and emptiness and pain. People with much and people with almost nothing coming by to give their money to help those without hope.

I heard a few minutes of a radio sermon this week. I don't know who the pastor was, but he talked about the exquisite joy of recognizing the beauty of a King Who cared so much about the pain and suffering in our world that He chose - yes, chose - to have His Prince of a Son be born to a poor little nobody like Mary, in a poor little nothing town like Bethlehem. Stinking hay and on which to lay His head, and water from an animal trough to clean the birth blood from His face. Born into misery so that He could lead us out - no wonder the skies were filled with the voices of angels - Good tidings of Great joy!! Unto us a Son is born - unto us a Savior is given.

I don't think I've ever experienced a Christmas that I have really gotten it like I have this time. I feel as if all the symbolism of giving is making sense to me. Rich and poor can and must give to receive the truth of what it means to be rescued from our despair.

In spite of the raw pain of human suffering, I am just so grateful to be involved in ministry to the homeless and hurting. Not only can I see the clear connection between us, I also can offer them the Hope that has rescued me, and continues to rescue me in this crazy "dumpster" world that I clank around in every day. "A beggar telling other beggars where to find bread."

This sprint up the mountain of realization has filled me with enough joy to bravely face the next valley with less halted step. All is well. Christ is with us.

Today I sit behind the desk Executive Director of Safe Harbor Rescue Mission - which happens to be my desk and my title. I have been sitting behind similar desks with this same title only since 2005. The difference is, today we are finally in the new home God has provided for us to use in ministry to women who have lives that seem to be destroyed.

Granted, we are not operating as a "Life Restoration Center" yet. We are still working as a Day Shelter for homeless women and children during daytime hours only. But today, there are lights on in the windows of a home that for five years sat empty. As empty and hopeless as the eyes of women who camped in the woods surrounding it.

The whole idea that God would place me in a leadership role such as this is pretty incredible. Very, VERY humbling. I have to admit often throughout the course of a day, or a week, or sometimes an hour, that I don't have the answers. What do you say to a woman who has never known a man, including her father and brothers, who did not strip her of her innocence and later, her dignity, leaving only shame and pain as the only companions that stick around?

The only thing that saves me is that I know it's not so much what I say, but what I don't say. Tears are very therapeutic. Not only when you're crying for your own pain, but when someone else cries for you.

For now, being Executive Director means I carry the vision and belief in this ministry. And I cry the tears that maybe no one else has cried. This is a high honor, and one I do not take lightly. Thankfully, there are people out there who also believe in the vision and mission of Safe Harbor. They are the ones who keep our doors open with finances; volunteer to come in and shed a few tears; or bring in some smiles and laughter to brighten our way and offer light to brighten the darkness.

So, this is "blogging." It's my first time, and it feels weird. But you know, I like the concept. Everyone's story is worth telling.