The Hands of God

In worship on Sunday, I felt the hands of God...

I did a double baptism, of a little boy and a little girl. As I held each of their heads over the font and used my hand to cup the water, I had this feeling that my hands weren't my own. The ELCA's missional slogan is "God's work, our hands." But, sometimes I think it's the other way around-- it's Our Work, God's Hands. That's what I felt on Sunday. I was doing the baptismal rite. I was pouring water over these children's heads, but the hands holding these children were not mine. God's hands were holding them, comforting them with the strength and gentleness of God's loving presence.

After the baptism, it is usual for us to walk the babies around the congregation, to introduce them to their new family in Christ. I took the little girl who was happy in my arms. And when I brought her back to hand off to her father, she clung to me with her tiny little fists. The hands of God, there, wrapped around my shoulder. Something about our time together around the font made her feel comfortable in my arms, such that she held me close with her hands. And I didn't want to let her go, to let go of that feeling.

God's hands, holding our own... What a gift!

The Longest Night

On December 21st, the longest night of the year, about 60 people gathered to remember those for whom the holidays aren't happy times, those who truly experience long, painful nights during the winter. December 21st is Homeless Memorial Day, and the Fargo-Moorhead Coalition for Homeless Persons organized a candlelight vigil to remember those homeless persons who died in our community over the last year.

A pair of boots was laid in the snow for each person who'd died in the streets, each with a tag inscribed with a name and age placed inside. There were 37 pairs of boots laid out that night.

The vigil was attended by shelter workers, faith leaders, concerned people in the community, and homeless persons. One of our small groups, the Man Cave, was there for their volunteer service project. They tended to the fires spread out around the lawn between the Fargo Civic Center and Library. I was glad to be there with them, in the freezing cold, as we listened to friends of the deceased share memories and reflections, and as we were led in prayer by various faith leaders of many traditions.

Sometimes it's easy to forget that the Christmas season isn't a joyous one for everyone. That many people are grieving the loss of loved ones, worrying over lost jobs, experiencing abuse, and sleeping on the streets... And yet, these are those for whom Christmas matters most. Christ, Emmanuel, "God with us" comes to and for those who need God most. And in that, we can be thankful!

A Christmas Story...

This morning our receptionist shared with me an encounter she'd had on Friday.

It was 5:15pm Friday when she saw her. Ambling down the hallway, the receptionist looked at the clock and thought, "Gee, I wonder how long this is going to take... I wanna get out of here!" As the middle-aged woman came in, she was running through the list of things the woman might be asking for.

But, then the woman began to speak. In fact, she didn't ask for anything at all.

She said she'd been reading lately that it's important to give back to God 10% of what you've been given.

And then the woman began to take out her pack of cigarettes. The receptionist thought to herself, "Oh, now what? Is she going to try to smoke in here? Give me a cigarette?" But instead, the woman pulled out a $100 bill.

This was the 10% she wanted to give to the church.

The receptionist asked if she were a member, and when the woman replied "no," the receptionist quick on the beat asked, "do you want to be?" They laughed.

The $100 was from her monthly social security check. And the woman wanted no recognition for it. No tax form. No name.

And then she left... Gone, but not forgotten... because this woman's simple and humble gift is what Christmas is all about.

Her story reminds me of the woman Jesus points out to the disciples in the Temple-- the widow who gives her only two coins...

Mark 12:41-44
41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites,[a] which make a quadrans. 43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”

To give so much when one has so little. And for no other reason than because she is thankful and because she knows it is the right thing to do. With no gain for herself, no reward... Selfless, joyful giving... that really is the true spirit of Christmas! And when I'm hassled trying to buy gifts for my friends and family, and when I wonder about whether or not I can afford to make end-0f-year gifts to the charities and organizations I support, I will remember this woman and her true Christmas spirit!