Christmas, 2012

As I sit at my desk and begin to write, I need to take a moment to breathe and shed tears of joy and happiness.

A couple weeks ago I wrote a blog about repentance.  In the book of Luke some people ask John the Baptist how they're supposed to turn from their sins and turn to God.  John tells them "If you have two coats, give one to someone who's cold.  If you have more than enough food, give some to those that do not have enough."  That really changed the way I looked at what it meant to return to God.

 A day or so after I wrote that blog I was getting ready for work and decided to bag up a bunch of sweaters, belts, and hoodies that I hadn't worn in awhile and give them to the homeless that I see almost everyday.

For the last couple years I've been stopping at the exit ramp that brings me off 690 East and runs onto Hiawatha Blvd.  There is always someone at the end of the ramp holding a cardboard sign.  I almost always stop and give them some money or anything else I have with me at the time.  I usually ask them how they're doing, and their response is always the same, "we're hanging in there."

For two weeks, starting the day I packed up those sweaters, I never saw anyone standing at the end of that exit ramp.  Almost everyday for the last two years I've seen them standing there, but for some reason during these two weeks not a soul was there to meet me.  I figured they had gone south for the winter, even though I'd asked them earlier and they told me they'd be staying in Syracuse regardless of the winter conditions.  It made me a little sad that I hadn't been able to give them these sweaters.  The temperature was dropping, the snow began falling, and I wanted them to have these gifts so they could stay warm.

I woke up this morning and grabbed my coffee. I sat down and watched Sports Center, and as I sat there I felt a urgency to get ready and drive down there to see if they'd be waiting.  So I got up and drove down.  Sure enough, Jamie, a familiar face, was standing there flying his sign.  I pulled over and waved him to the car.  I said "I've got some Christmas presents for you buddy."  I was able to give Jamie a little money and 5 bags filled with the gifts.  I spent a minute or so talking with him and wished him a Merry Christmas.  As I drove off I realized it was Christmas Eve.

Two weeks ago I packed up these sweaters, ready to hand them out that morning.  Things worked out so that on Christmas Eve I was able to distribute these gifts to Jamie and his friends.  Two days that we celebrate with friends and family; two days when we exchange gifts and share the love in our hearts; two days that the homeless population spends outdoors, in the cold harsh Central New York weather and alone.  On this day I was able to provide them with Christmas gifts, to show that there is someone thinking about them, someone that sees Jesus in them and loves them deeply.

The gifts, given two weeks earlier, would've been wonderful random gifts for my friends.  But the fact that I was able to hand them out on Christmas Eve makes it so much better.  It provides people that are normally overlooked and disgraced, with a sense of dignity, with a sense of connectedness and community.  To recognize these men and women as valued members in my life and to be able to show that love on Christmas Eve makes the whole thing so incredibly special.

This is a first for me, a Christmas where I can tangibly see God at work.  He's moving time and space and making room for such little things as this, sharing love and respect with the unloved.

Thank you, so very much, for reading what's been on my mind over the last year.

Here's wishing you and your family a very happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

~  Cheers,
Anthony T.