Minister's Corner

An American writer described one Christmas Eve he spent with his wife and school-age daughter in a drab little café in Paris. (If there is such a thing as a drab little café in Paris!) Everyone there was eating in silence. An old flower woman came hobbling slowly through the door. She went from table to table, offering her flowers. No sales. With resignation she sat down to eat a meager bowl of soup to warm up her cold, stiff bones.

Into this sad scene a young French sailor rose from his table where he had been smiling and vigorously writing a letter. He went to the flower lady's table. “Happy Christmas,” he said, as he picked up two corsages. “How much are they?” “Two francs, monsieur.” He pressed one of the small corsages flat and carefully put it into his letter with a kiss, and handed the woman a twenty-franc note. “I don't have change, monsieur, I'll get some from the waiter,” she said. “No ma'am,” said the sailor, leaning over and kissing her ancient, wrinkled cheek. “This is my Christmas present to you.”

The sailor then went to the writer's table: “May I have permission to present these lovely flowers to your beautiful daughter?” he asked. With a nod of her parents' heads, in one quick motion, he gave the young girl the other corsage, wished them all a Holy Christmas, and departed with a spring in his step. Everyone had stopped eating to watch the sailor. When he left, a deep silence filled the little café. Then, suddenly, Christmas exploded throughout the café like a wave of bursting fireworks.

A letter, a smile, flowers, a kiss, a gift, a compliment, a greeting — all from one person to transform a dull, drab place into a glowing and joyful place. Because of Jesus Christ, the son of God, and his joy in one single heart, Christmas can explode like a burst of fireworks in other hearts. All it takes is love and the risk of showing that love by giving it to others.

That one person could be you, bringing the joy of Christmas to the most unlikely people in the most unlikely places. Be open to the opportunities and the people God brings into your path, who need a little of Christ's love to break into their drab lives. Be open to the hurting stranger and the broken seeker God sends your way, so you can reach out to them in some small way with the joy of Christ's love in your heart.

I wish all of you a very happy Christmas season, filled with the love and joy of Christ. Please make plans to come to our Christmas Eve service to celebrate the coming of Christ into our world and into our lives. Hope to see all of you there.

Peace & Blessings,
Rev. Garry