Pilgrim Presbyterians in Vinita, Oklahoma send greetings and best wishes as you make your Advent journey to the Cradle of the Christ child.
Announcing the birth of Jesus, an angel said "I bring you good tidings of great joy" (Luke 2:10). Today, the good tidings are communicated by you, and people like you, who are aglow in faith, strong in hope, love and kindness.
Often the good tidings are communicated by people who see themselves as co-workers with God in our secular world. Do you remember Pogo, or Peanuts, or Mr. Rogers? They were full of good tidings.
I remember once when Charlie Brown and Lucy were leaning against a tree, and Lucy asked, "What do you think security is, Chuck?"
He replied, "Security is sleeping in the back seat of the car when you're a little kid and you've been somewhere with your Mom and Dad, and it's night. You're riding and you can sleep without worrying about anything. Your Mom and Dad are in the front seat, and they've done all the worrying. They take care of everything."
Lucy smiled and said, "That's really neat!" But a serious look came over Charlie's face and he said: "But it doesn't always last. Suddenly you've grown up, and it can never be that way again. Suddenly it's over and you'll never go to sleep in the back seat. Never!"
Lucy got a scared look and said, "Never?" And Charlie who got scared himself with a terrible truth said "Never!"
In the last picture Lucy, aware of the real world, reaches over to Charlie and said, "Hold my hand, Chuck. Hold my hand."
The good tidings - the gospel of Jesus Christ - tells us that we can hold one another's hand in the midst of discomfort - with love and support, for Christ has come to dwell in us and we are his co-workers in life's adventure.
With blessings and in friendship,
Richard
No comments:
Post a Comment