Vacancy

It was the festive ambiance of a family at Christmas. Sisters-in-law, brothers-in law, parents-in-law, nephew, nieces. Nearly twenty in all.

On this Christmas-past, I am a sponge. I soak in all that I see and hear. My daughter is just a few months old at the time and we all agreed to meet in Colorado for Christmas. One family has an air mattress and sleeping bags in the basement. A hide-a-bed couch serves to accommodate another family; spare bedrooms are filled to capacity.

One sister, in full joy, proclaims that she has the cutest baby on planet earth, while another exacts a proclamation of equal conviction with general disagreement on all sides while I quietly gaze at my own daughter, who is without question the cutest child by far. I turn and look near the fireplace, the rest of the guys are working on a jig saw puzzle (well over a million pieces if memory serves). Our children perform grand and glorious firsts - moments worthy of a TV movie of the week and our wives are chanting their praises as the men set bleary eyed, not willing that any puzzle piece should perish for lack of immediate placement.

In time, we eat turkey and are served a full compliment of the season's finest provisions; cranberries, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, the very-veggie contents of a relish tray, candy, cookies and pies and other non-descript specialties that include a combination of marshmallows and some sort of green stuff.

We all leave the table having eaten far too much while exercising far too little restraint. The tryptophan suddenly immerses the male populace of this small village into a comical bob-n-weave as one by one; we succumb to "slumber so deep" while our children bounce on our belly's, "like bowls full of jelly".

The presents were opened and everyone ooh'ed and aah'ed and then quickly contracted an advanced case of amnesia with neither the gift nor the giver being recalled.

A clash of cultures takes place between those who have children and those that do not. Invariably, a childless in-law (generally male) cheers like they're at a football game, 50 yard line, 5th row, isle seat. Why? They are the first person to land on Boardwalk. Three mom's scurry away to calm previously sleeping children - the game is forgotten.

And as comfortable as this family inn has been, it is not home. I try to sleep but every noise is distinct in its unfamiliarity. I notice the flushing of the communal restroom facility and the creaking of the floor and the faint whisper of others seeking elusive slumber.

Suddenly it hits me; Jesus came to a packed house and wasn't allowed in. The joyful celebrating on that first Christmas refused to acknowledge a newborn babe. I imagine women joking and sharing stories of the agony and ecstasy of being moms. I imagine games that the men insisted on winning. Children alternately delighting and exasperating their parents with everyone looking forward to going home.

I seek out a quiet spot and bring my Bible...

"And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:1-7

Did I leave Him outside? Did I forget to bring Him with me? Was His presence what I had been missing in all the family fun?

No room?

I looked over and two others had also found their Bibles and it suddenly seemed the house had miraculously expanded - the Guest of honor had arrived and found He was welcome.

The Heart of His Story

Note: A different take on The Night Before Christmas. My mind does work in unusual ways. - Glenn

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the earth,

Creatures were stirring, just prior to birth.

The baby was wrapped in cloths swaddled with care,

The Son of ‘Almighty’ was finally there.

Mankind was nestled all snug in their beds,

In hopes that Messiah would remove fear and dread.

God in His manger while Mary looked on,

Soon words sprang to her lips, she sang a new song.

My spirit rejoices, my soul praises God,

I am but a servant, and some think me odd.

But today I am blessed, that will be my name,

Great things He has done, I’m no longer the same.

He brings down the haughty, and raises the weak,

He scatters the proud, and gives heart to the meek.

His people He helps, woman, child, and man,

He dispenses His mercy from a righteous right hand.

That boy, once a baby, soon debates with the wise,

He speaks as one learned, knowing how it applies.

But more years would pass by on His way to His plan,

And He would grow in favor with His God, and with man.

He called His disciples and they each made a choice,

Like sheep hear their shepherd they followed His voice.

He told them great stories and each had a purpose,

He shared His life and brought His plan to the surface.

In the quietest moments He spoke of the way,

He must die for mankind, and then rise on that day.

To pay the price for our sins, present, future and past,

To defeat death’s horrid sting, offering eternity vast.

While they did not understand as He spoke these words,

There would come a day when their memories stirred.

They had denied, they had run, they had cried.

Just outside of town, the Messiah was condemned, crucified.

And in the three days that followed, darkness clung to the land,

The earth gave a great shake, and the disciples quietly ran.

To see the body of Jesus, The reminder of promise,

Each chose to believe except one named Thomas.

Victory, sweet victory, the redeemer, alive,

When it came to forgiveness, no more need to deprive.

The love of the Father, brought to life through His son,

Redemption complete, new life won by One.

The story is clear, and the meaning is plain,

When Jesus came to this earth it took dying to gain.

New life for His people, new hope, a new plan,

That started with a baby, a mother, and man.

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the earth,

Creatures were stirring, just prior to birth.

The baby was wrapped in cloths swaddled with care,

The Son of ‘Almighty’ was finally there.

Forever Snow Day

Snow days have always been a rare piece of fruit dangling from the tree of childhood wishes. It's downright impressive to get one.

To have a snow day means sleeping in, frost on the widows, and building snow forts. Snow men come to life on snow days. In a perfect world moms stay home and make the day a special memory with the best breakfast ever and and endless supply of hot cocoa with itty bitty marshmallows.

On snow days there's a blend of cold faces and overheated backs as every child is dressed in layers. Sledding is mandatory. Snow angels are art. Snow ball fights proved the mettle of young warriors.

It appears a school in Michigan may have dealt a death blow to the snow day. This school had a 'dry run' of a new snow day protocol. Students were allowed to stay home, but they took all their regular classes online. The school proved that a snow day could mean classes can be held even when the buses don't run.

The essential hope of a snow day rests in one thing – a gift. Kids know they have to go to school Monday through Friday unless the school plans a day off for in-service or holiday. A snow day is a present to students. They get an unexpected day off.

God gave us a snow day for the rest of our lives. What He did was unexpected, but was a rare piece of fruit dangling from the tree of lifelong desires.

God told us we were responsible for our own action. He gave us a set of rules and we mess up – every day. We owe a debt we can't pay and God isn't satisfied until it's paid.

That's when God gave us the improved snow day. He sent His Son, Jesus to pay what we owe for sin. He invites us to stop trying to improve life on our own and rely on His ability to make us new.

“God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.” Romans 5:8 (MSG)

God told the world, “I've got this. Relax. Sin has been taken care of.”

Snow day?

“[Jesus said], I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” John 10:10 (MSG)

The same joy kids feel when they have a snow day is expanded when we truly understand God didn't just choose one day – but every day until we die – to experience the love, forgiveness, and companionship He offers.

Kids will always see a snow day as good news. All of us can see God's greatest rescue plan as the greatest news. But how often do we treat following God's plans as something we have to do rather than something we can't wait to do?

What if we treated our relationship with God like a forever snow day? Sure it will be different, but when we bring the joy the days we live can bear a resemblance to the radio announcement we all remember, “Due to weather conditions there will be no school today.”

So, the next time there is a snow day, just remember God has a life that is abundant, real, and adventurous – and it won't stop when the day is done. Isn't it time to really live?

Botox for the Wrinkled Blessing Psyche

Have you ever noticed how Thanksgiving day can often feel a bit like that special time right before church when you teeter precariously between the love of God and potential homicide (mostly involving unruly offspring)?

Ah yes, a lovely holiday designed to allow all of us to express genuine moments of gratitude. Yep, that’s how it started, but some turkey farmer took a course in marketing and the holiday morphed into something about as unattainable as three dollar bills. 

The special day arrives and invariably we find that a favorite recipe calls for more items than we have available and the only store opened charges only slightly less that the national debt for things like corn starch. Many times it is whole families that converge on one home and the host family is left with no place to go when they need a good cry. The television is set on ‘consistent blither’, although the only programs worth watching seem to be a fishing show and a football game, the rest of the programs seem steeped in another holiday altogether.

Between the lack of personal space and that unusual smell that seems to coincide with family closeness, someone suggests a strategic plan for the day after Thanksgiving sales. Uncles mumble and occasionally grunt as football players run back and forth on a pretty little pasture. Mostly they just hope they won’t have to chauffeur the following day. If they refuse to pay attention they can claim ignorance.

Someone is dissatisfied with the sleeping arrangements, one nephew is in trouble for picking on the youngest, and a sister really thinks you should have had tofu turkey.

It’s amazing that holidays can become irresistible stress magnets. We promise ourselves that we won’t let the stress get to us, yet we fly into the holiday as if our entire psyche has had one too many Botox injections and we probably won’t resemble our old selves till St. Patrick’s Day.

A few years ago I was left to consider the concept of thanksgiving at a time when I wasn’t ready for some football, and turkeys were still hanging out at the feed trough telling chicken jokes. Nope, this was smack dab in the middle of summer and I found myself understanding the idea of thanksgiving better than I ever had before.

All I had to do was pay attention to the things that I was grateful for and then let the person responsible know that I was obliged. Seemed simple enough.

“Thanks for checking me out.”

“This is a grocery store and it’s my job, sir.”

“OK - thanks for taking the job. Without you being here to check me out I might be tempted to walk out with it, so thanks for saving me from a life of crime.”

“Security!”

Some experiences actually went better. In fact, there were several people that were profoundly overwhelmed that someone would take notice of something they had done. It was clear that many of these people had never been thanked before and it changed the way they looked at the rest of the day. Some thought I was joking and then seemed confused when there didn’t seem to be a punch line.

No football, no eating myself into a stupor, no stressful moment - just a few words of appreciation and my day was as close to perfect as they come.

The Old Testament is filled with moments where a father would bless his son. Jesus spent much time investing in the lives of those with whom He came in contact. He encouraged us to bless our enemies and not to curse them (I Peter 3:9).

If we have such examples that range from blessing our kids to blessing a rude brother-in-law, then extending a blessing to those we rarely come in contact with seems to make sense too. 

The strange thing is you think you’re doing it for them but something happens to you that will amaze and astound.

Oh, and if you really want turkey you can always invite the guy that takes your groceries to the car to the deli for a smoked turkey sub with whatever fixings he wants - then invite him to the park so you can throw the pig skin for awhile. On second thought, maybe he’d take it better if you just said thanks.

Sing Once More For Me

Note: I have had a couple of friends who spent years in the pastorate and after retirement they moved to ministering in nursing homes. Recently Betty Jo left her beloved Don after 60 years of marriage. It was this beautiful soul that inspired this poem. Maybe you know someone like Betty Jo - maybe you are someone like Betty Jo - someone who helps others focus on their future.  

She sits all alone

Her eyes appear vacant

She reacts to no one

Her mind seems distant

Life has been long

Health issues malicious

A bed and a wheelchair

She won't long be with us

But then a merry soul

Paid a visit one day

And sang an old hymn

As old Clara lay

Clara's eyes came in focus

And the tears filled and fell

And she joined in the song

A joyful praise from soul’s well

The nurses can’t believe

The song they are hearing

She has uttered no words

For a year or so nearing

A brilliant smile remains

Lingering after the song

Her mind fixed on Jesus

She’ll see His face before long

While her body seems useless

Her soul still communes

She holds loosely to life

Waiting for one final boon

And it comes in the end

Despite expressions of sorrow

Her soul has found rest

With no earthly tomorrow 

Eternity with Jesus

Following her longest night

Her body is whole

Her spirit is light

"I knew You would come."

She says with a smile

"I waited and remembered

And You came after awhile."

"True, dear daughter,

It’s you I’ve been waiting to see.

I heard your sweet voice, 

Now daughter, sing once more for Me."

- Glenn Hascall -

Different – With Purpose

My wife and I are nothing alike. She notices things I never do. She is a detail person. She is a bright shiny light of goodness.

I am analytical and can sometimes be messy. I am a detail person when it comes to any project I am working on, but that might mean I can lose sight of other things for a time. I tend to be an introvert.

I used to think an introverted person was someone who didn't like people and didn't like to talk. Introverts were shy people, right? My view was challenged in a few recent articles I've read. Introverts are less willing to engage in small talk. If they talk they want it to mean something. They might be engaged in very public work, but when it's all done they need some alone time to recharge. They can be the life of the party, but they don't automatically seek it.

Introverts tend to be creative and can be easily misunderstood. Some may think an introvert is snobby because they can be quiet or because they may seek a place to get away from it all. Introverts aren't necessarily interested in impressing other people, but they are interested in creating things that can impact other people.

My wife used to be very shy, but I don't think she was an introvert. Today it is so easy for her to start a conversation and keep it going. People like being around her. She makes others laugh and feel comfortable. She makes me very proud to be her husband.

It would be easy for me to simply hide away after my work is done for the day, but Nancy has been God's perfect gift. Over the years she continues to encourage me to live outside my comfort zone. We've been good for each other. Neither of us are the same people we were when we met more than 30 years ago – and that's OK. I think both of us are more like the people God intended us to be. Imperfect to be sure, but God has been consistent in shaping us as we cooperate with His plan.

In some ways we are very much alike. We are very interested in how we raise our kids. We want to be very intentional about following God. We want to make the choice to love each other even when we disagree.

Nancy is my best friend. My best conversations are with her. My happiest moments are just being with her. We have a couple of days a week when we go out for a cup of hot cocoa or a meal. These are some of our favorite moments of the week.

All of us bring good things and bad into a marriage. We may want to be as compatible with the other person as we can, but in the end God can reshape two very different people into a couple that can't imagine living life without each other.

“...a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24 (NIV)

I think God makes us different with great purpose. If we were all alike we would be incredibly bored. There would be no mystery, no need to learn, no curiosity. When we learn how we are different we can learn how those differences can compliment the relationship. This works not only in marriage, but in friendships as well.

No matter how different you may feel God has a place where only you fit.

Restoration in Progress

Last fall I went out to my garage, took a leaf blower, and removed offending tree remnants from the concrete floor. A day later? Who could tell.

When our children were small, my wife would pick up after them all the time. When they were asleep the house looked nice. In the morning? Not so much.

We all go from assignment to assignment in the hopes that at some point we get ahead of the potential disaster that seems ready to pounce on our inattention.

The Second Law of Thermodynamics is – in it's basic understanding – a bit like taking a casserole and putting it in the oven hoping to achieve a final temperature of 350 degrees. Once achieved the casserole is removed and placed on the counter. Does it stay 350 degrees? No. It cools to room temperature if you don't either apply more energy to heat or cool it.

In the privacy of your own home you can apply the Second Law of Thermodynamics to so many things. Mom's pick up after kids because the alternative is chaos. We remove leaves from our garages because we appreciate order. But to give up applying energy to anything means that it cools to room temperature. The heat leaves it. It begins to decay.

When we give up, someone has to either pick up what we left - or what we worked for becomes dust.

God's 'heat' will be applied to our lives. We feel the scorch and it's uncomfortable. But perhaps this is God's way of saying, “Hey, I'm not giving up on you.”

God invests in broken people. He keeps repairing, restoring, and applying heat so one day His investment in our future proves His love always outshone our lack.

Maybe this gives us a new perspective on why sometimes God applies pressure that feels uncomfortable. He wants our obedience to transform us into the new creations He promised. The struggle to adjust may be His way of removing the old to make way for the new.

When heat isn't applied to our lives we lose the ability to show compassion, discover real joy, and embrace the hope God offers. We generate our own heat, but that heat always leaves us cold. We mock people, embrace sarcasm, find hate easy to apply, and bitterness becomes easy to accept.

God's heat brings light and understanding. God's heat makes us wise. God's heat makes us better.

“Anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 (MSG)

You can't restore a table without sanding the blemishes. You can't restore a car by simply painting rust. God can't restore you without applying energy to the end result that becomes willing to say, “He must become greater; I must become less.” John 3:30 (NIV)

The Christian life isn't self-help – it's God helping those who need help.