A Joyful Noise
Free parenting tip: When my sons were little guys, I kept in my car a cd (old school, I know) of Elvis Presley singing Christmas songs and I highly recommend all parents do something similar. Anytime they would start fighting in the car because one of them breathed on the other or dared to move an inch over the invisible halfway line in the seat, I would play the cd and make them sing. I figured if there was going to be noise in the car, it might as well be noise I wanted to hear. The boys would grudgingly sing along, sometimes making up words they didn’t know, but it was always music to my ears.
20/20 Vision
On my drive to work a few weeks ago, the holiday song “Do You See What I See?” came on the radio as I approached downtown. I stopped at a traffic light and a man crossing the street caught my eye. It isn’t uncommon to see homeless people wandering the streets around 8am because the local shelter ushers them out the door after breakfast so the bedding can be cleaned. Frankly, most of us who work in the area try to avoid eye contact because a few can be very insistent about wanting money. We keep our heads down and rush past them to get in the building. They have become faceless and almost invisible unless they demand a response. So what was different about this man who was now stopped on the sidewalk looking back at me?
His demeanor was calm with no hint of want, sadness or shame. I suddenly felt embarrassed to be staring back from my leather, heated car seat with a cup of hot cocoa in my hand. I would guess him to be in his mid-30s. His clothes were wrinkled and worn. There were no gloves, hat or blanket in view. His overgrown hair was neatly combed. He had a small, plastic bag that I assume contained his belongings. Suddenly, I wasn’t overlooking him, but actually “seeing” him.
The light changed to green and a friendly honk brought me back to focus on the road. I waved to the man but he was already on his way. I drove two blocks to the parking garage, turned off the car and reached my office. Once settled, my thoughts returned to the man on the street. But for the grace of God, that could be one of my sons. He was, after all, somebody’s son. Does his mother know where he is? Does she worry about him? Does she care? Is he too ashamed to call her? Did he burn a relationship bridge he fears can’t be rebuilt? For whatever reason, this man weighed on my mind. I prayed all of his mental, emotional, physical and spiritual needs would be met that day. Then, I went back to work, slightly distracted for the rest of the day.
A Gift for All
That was two weeks ago. Since then, I have watched for him, but not seen him. He is, no doubt, loved by God just as much as I am. My savior, who slept in a cattle shelter, was born of a virgin, died on a cross and rose again to be his savior, too. The same power that saved me from certain death in 2017 can easily provide for his needs. In God’s eye, we are more alike than different.
My Christmas wish this year is that we will all be given the gift of true sight. Whether it be a random homeless person, an annoying coworker, an irritating relative or an inattentive restaurant server, may we remember to see them as our heavenly father does-with grace and worthy of His miraculous gift.