Merry Christmas from Carl

It's been a very Merry Christmas for the Oliphint family.  Last year seemed haunted with a tremendous void in the family and the absence of Dad in our lives.   While we enjoy a lull in the Christmas Day festivities, I want to capture Christmas Eve while I can recall the details making it an almost sacred day.  It was filled with reminders of Dad and his obvious presence in our lives.   Throughout the holiday, peace overwhelmed us and his memory brought comfort instead of pain.

We awoke on Christmas Eve morning to the smell of wassail and I was reminded of the annual tradition of stuffing cloves into oranges with my brother.  I don't think I ever tasted the goodness of the beverage containing ingredients unfit for a young girl, but a first glance at three clove-filled-oranges stuffed by my daughter brought me back to my childhood.  Also that morning, I enjoyed listening to the same daughter on the piano as sunlight streamed through the window and a portrait of my Dad was prominently displayed before my eyes.  Just through the window, the ice covered trees sparkled like diamonds as the sun was shining on them.  Locals faced the threat of branches falling on their houses, cars and power lines, but I was simply awestruck by the beauty of this glorious, almost magical, sight.  Within a few hours, my brother and 16 of my Dad's friends arrived for lunch wearing ragged clothes and scruffy facial hair having spent the morning at bus stations and homeless shelters passing out envelopes filled with cash and labeled, "Merry Christmas from Carl".  They continued a tradition started by my Dad and honored him with their presence in Mom's home and stories from a frigid morning spent with those suffering in our midst.   Once again, as I spent time with some of Dad's friends, even a man who visited the hospital on the day of my birth, I felt Dad's presence among us.

Christmas Eve ended with a chili dinner and worship at the midnight service.  We attended the church where my brother's family are members and where my Dad attended youth group as a teenager.  I was struck by the history of the church, including generations of family membership.  It was the perfect ending to a day full of joy and peace with all of our loved ones gathered to celebrate the Incarnation of our Lord.  As we closed the service with traditional hymns, I was caught off guard by a repeating lyric in "Joy to the World".  Grateful tears streamed down my face as we sang, "and heaven and earth rejoice" over and over.  This was yet another powerful connection with Dad; he's rejoicing with us in the presence of our Lord and Savior.   While singing Silent Night, we filed into the foyer to hear the Hallelujah Chorus.  I pictured Dad singing along and beaming with pride as his granddaughter and grandsons were in such a spectacular choir.  Yet, I also imagined him knowing the full reality of this magnificent work.

While the title of the blog is weird, to say the least, it really has felt like a very merry Christmas from Carl.  One can only hope to leave this world and be remembered by loved ones in such profoundly tangible ways.  The overwhelming feeling last year was of a gaping hole, but this year I felt his presence in our midst and this was a tremendous blessing.   I hope your family's holiday was full of joy and peace and the richest blessings from Christ our Lord.

Resting or Restless

In North Texas, we are on day three of an ice event keeping families at home.  The roads are thick ice and the skies are completely white with no sign of melting in the immediate future.  The wind chill makes it feel like 23 degrees, so only the tough among us are enjoying the outdoors while sledding, slipping and sliding on every imaginable surface, including the grass.  For some of us, time is spent watching movies, baking, playing games and reading (etc.), but for others of us (including my family members in Dallas), it means freezing and complete boredom while on day 3 of no power.  To put it simply, we are STUCK at home due to God's providence of paralyzing weather. 

For me, this is a picture of so much of our lives.  Every day we face the protective care of God and circumstances out of our control.  It seems we have only two choices while dealing with a difficult providence.  We can rest in Him or we can be restless.  As I start to feel cabin fever, restlessness increases, but at the same time I'm also grateful for (and mindful of) a time of forced refreshment where there is nothing I can do to change the weather forecast.  This posture, or shall I say tension,  relates to multiple daily challenges where I battle a tendency to be anxious rather than trusting in the tender hand and almighty power of God.   So often, His is work in my life is through circumstances out of my control where I wrestle and then learn to abide in Him more fully.

"The Lord in my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul.  He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
Psalm 23

"Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."  
Matthew 11: 28-30