Christmas is Dead, Long Live Christmas

This is the story of us losing Christmas, only to find it. It's not the story in the way my wife would tell it, with pictures and jokes and a way with words that would actually hold your interest. No, I'm trying to figure out what this all means.

About a month ago we swallowed our pride, admitted that would couldn't actually afford presents for our gaggle of children and asked people we know to come together and buy gifts for all our kids. It wasn't actually a difficult ask—we're missionaries, asking for stuff is part of the job description. And it wasn't a difficult sell, we're lucky to have so many people that love us and our kids. But it turned out to be a difficult trip. The gifts were scheduled to come down with some very good friends who were visiting in mid December. However, as it is prone to do, Haiti didn't cooperate. Election violence led to canceled flights which led to a canceled trip and canceled Christmas.

But God, as he is prone to do, appeared in our mess.

Gwenn and I went into crises response mode. Our plan revolved around selling Christmas to our kids, not as a big party for us, but as a birthday for Jesus. I know it sounds super spiritual, but please understand this wasn't by choice, and I'll admit that I was skeptical of the whole idea. But the kids got it. It seemed to make more sense to them than it did to me, and so we ran with it.

And God, as he is prone to do, appeared in our mess.

He turned our inward focus outward. Sure, Christmas has always been about family, but that's still pretty insular, don't you think? What about half-starved women on the verge of death? What about families who have lived under palm fronds for almost a year? What about friends who have needs and we can meet them?

He turned the eleven little animals that usually sit around my dinner table in to perfect little angels eating an amazing dinner at what might possibly be the most beautiful place on earth.

He turned a simple, $5 secret Santa event into the most amazing gift exchange I have ever experienced—complete with chanting, cheering, laughing, screaming, and me receiving underwear.

This is getting sappy, so let's get to the point:

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face

Somehow, in closing the door on "Christmas" (as we're used to it and expected it), the door was opened to heaven. Honestly, I feel like the last two days have been a glimpse of heaven—like Disney World and Friday night dates with my wife. And when did I see heaven? When God showed up in my mess. And when will you see heaven? When God shows up in yours. And how can you show heaven to other people? Show up in theirs.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm now going to go finish the cake that we're eating for dinner. Yes, cake for dinner—this may actually BE heaven.