월드미션프론티어

A few weeks ago I attended a Christmas concert presented by a number of Korean churches in San Francisco. A combined church choir presented Handel’s Messiah. The event reminded me of how the birth of Christ transcends time and culture. At the time that Handel wrote his masterpiece in 1754, there wasn’t a single Korean Christian. Now there were millions and I was listening to the words of Christmas sung in the Korean language. As I listened to Christmas words, my mind wandered back to a Christmas service that I attended many years earlier in Wisconsin State. At this service a woman stood to give this testimony, a story of Christmas that I will always remember:

Christmas Eve started cold and dark. My husband ran outside to warm up my car. Once the windows were defrosted, I left for work. Although I was up, the sun was still down. I drove into town with my headlights on. Throughout the day, my mind was not focused on waiting tables. I was thinking about Christmas. The restaurant served few customers so I didn’t get much in tips. This soured my mood since I had hoped to take home some extra money for the holidays. After work, I shuffled to my car and turned on my headlights. The idea of leaving home in the dark and returning home in the dark depressed me more. Driving through the country side, I could see the last rays of the sun glinting off snow covered pines.

When I reached the intersection leading into town, I began seeing Christmas lights. Every porch along the highway seemed to twinkle with green, red and white lights. Some of my neighbors had bright Santas, others had manger scenes. Our family had a small Christmas tree, but no outside lights. I felt bad for my husband, for myself, but especially for my children. I hesitated near the corner Walmart. Should I buy some Christmas lights? I knew that the tip money in my purse wouldn’t buy much, so I stepped on the accelerator and continued to drive home. I was driving up a hill leading home, looking at lights on house after house and feeling sorry for myself.

I prayed aloud “God, why can’t I have Christmas lights like these?” Even as I prayed this, I felt worse. After all, I was a Christian. I should not be coveting my neighbor’s possessions. I had felt envious and because I recognized this, I felt guilty. “Oh, God, what a miserable Christian I am”. As I topped the last hill before my driveway, I saw the most dazzling display of them all. But his display was not affixed to a house.

The Christmas lights shone in the sky. Burst in my eyes were spectacular reds and yellows blending into blues. High frosty vapor trails added garlands of white to the display. Enclosing this sunset was a velvet blue with the first twinkling stars of night. I switched off the ignition in my carport. I bowed my head. “God, forgive me, how magnificent is your creation! Electric lights pale in your brightness. Thank you for reminding me of the true light that overcomes darkness. Let my neighbors keep their artificial lights. Your Christmas light in the sky is sufficient for me.” I laughed, bundled my winter coat around my shoulders and walked briskly into the warmth of my home.