Monday, December 21, 2009

FIVE GOLDEN RINGS


We're counting down the 12 days of Christmas. Today is the day we are celebrating "five golden rings," the gift of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible written by Moses, the Torah. We're well on our way to the two turtle doves, the gifts of the Old and New Testaments and, finally, on Christmas Day, the Partridge in a Pear Tree, the ultimate gift, a Savior, born to give His life for us nailed to a tree. Despite Relient K's clever and catchy rendition of this favorite Christmas Carol, this traditional song is rich with meaning intended to teach young children about the whole of the Christian Faith.

It gives me pause to think of the many inventive ways we create to bring the essence of Christianity and Christ alive to our toddlers and tykes, through song, or selflessness, outpourings of generousity, Christ-like expressions of good cheer and service. And, lest we forget Saint Nick, the greatest metaphor for selfless giving of undeserved, unmerited gifts. Grace personified in childlike fantasy, complete with flying reindeer. A man who can circumvent the globe in a single night with the same love for all, yet no one has ever been able to see him. Still with a child's innocence, there exists an undeniable belief he exists.

I recall the day we explained the Santa metaphor to our own son. There were no tears. There was no disappointment. He was humbled, however. To know that his parents loved him enough to carry on this charade until he would be able to grasp the full meaning of the metaphor. To fully comprehend this holiday was and has always been completely about Jesus, His gifts to us. Giving gifts and receiving them took on a whole new meaning from that point on.

I'm reminded of this as each year we try to remember others abroad. Like "Santa" and his flying reindeer can circumvent the world in one single night giving, graciously, freely, lovingly as God so loved the world, He gave us his son. There are organizations like Samaritan's Purse, Heifer, Int'l, World Vision and local charities through which gifts can be given in someone's honor. The emphasis no longer on receiving, but on giving as God gave.

Today I received word from our friends in Bosnia, Mick and Ali Holstead, who run the youth center, Novi Most (new bridge)http://www.theholsteads.org/, in Capljina. I was encouraged to hear the news that Capljina, too, is involved with Samaritan's purse and gathered 3000 boxes to be delivered! The outreach in Capljina has obviously soared to great heights. More extraordinary to me is they actually helped deliver them! Our shoeboxes travel across the world. Those at Novi Most have the benefit of being able to see the fruit of their labor manifest in the faces of the children who will receive these selfless gifts.

Throughout the update, I read another youth has come to Christ. Praise God! And, the center, as well as the church, continues to experience favorable reception. One more for the kingdom as we celebrate the gift of "five golden rings." Just in time for Christmas. And to think Moses was quite sure God had chosen the wrong man for the job. Let us all be grateful for the "five golden rings" this day, and perhaps, even tongue tied, we might share our faith with someone or give of ourselves this Christmas expecting nothing in return but to show the love of a Savior.

"Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
Exodus 4:12

Merry Christmas,
Kathy

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

TEARS FROM HEAVEN

It's raining in Atlanta today. It's raining in Capljina as well. I used to love the rain, especially walking in the summer showers on the beach in Florida. Hurricane Andrew changed that. An unwelcome drenching on the outside only served as a reminder of how helpless I felt on the inside. Much the way I feel now.

There are hundreds of reasons it is raining on twos sides of the world today, Georgia and Bosnia. Our climates are similar, seasons a mirror of each other. Still, the dreary, damp and darkness once again paints a bleak, but relevant, picture capturing the essence of hearts broken globally over the loss of a sister, our "Sestra" in Christ, Marica Vega, who went to be with the Lord last night.

I choose to believe the droplets falling from the Heavens, though reminders of our sadness and loss, are the tears wept by Jesus at His great gain - a reunion with his precious, humble servant and most obedient, loving daughter. The disciple, John, could not mention his own name and Jesus' in the same sentence referring to himself only as "the one Jesus loves." It is true of us all. I can picture in my mind's eye as Jesus opens wide His wings, while Marica is now able to run, in her crocks, to Jehovah Rapha who has healed her, the one Jesus loves, of all afflictions and envelopes her now with the warmest embrace. Their tears are different, however. They are tears of joy! Marica is with Our Savior. She has all we could ever want for her. And, still we, and especially her dear husband Andrija, are left wanting . . . for us. More time, with someone dearly loved who gave without exception, who lived as Christ asked, who leaves behind a legacy, a life, we want to emulate. There is never enough time to spend with one such as this, only time to be grateful for the privilege to have known her and apply to our lives the lessons and images she left emblazzened on our hearts.

The Bible says:
1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
Ecc 3:1-8

Marica has lived through it all. Nothing broke her spirit, and God fulfilled his promise. His love endures forever, through it all. So, let us weep and let us mourn for “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Mt 5:4), but let us not forget to laugh and dance. Rejoice! Our sestra is in the arms of our Lord Jesus Christ, and I'm quite sure she is smiling her incredible smile with the light beaming down on her face, praising and laughing and dancing with us. She will never leave us. She is a part of us. It rains today, but tomorrow there will be sunshine, and I will think of the light emanating from Marica's face.

Goodbye for now, my sweet Sestra!
Volim te,
Kathy