It was a Christmas we would never forget.
I was no older than the first grade. The most enduring memory of that season? When we went for our annual Christmas shopping night in downtown. My hometown (Paducah, Kentucky) is located at the confluence of two rivers: the Ohio and the Tennessee. That makes the winter crosswinds in downtown positively icy. Undoubtedly the coldest corner was Fourth and Broadway, the location of the Paducah Dry Goods store (a twin of the department store in A Christmas Story).
Cold air funneled up from those rivers to chill us as Dad dropped the three of us off at the store. He, then, parked the car a few blocks away and rejoined us inside. My parents forced us to endure shopping on each floor, in turn; making our way with agonizing slowness toward all that really mattered:” the Fourth floor, location of toys and home of Santa’s red velvet throne.
The highlight of this christmastime memory is sitting on Santa’s lap and telling him something —though I can’t recall what— and realizing that his beard was real. That beard convinced me he was the real thing.
Eventually, my parents bundled us up and moved us down four floors and to the front of the store. Things get a little hazy after that. I have a vibrant memory of my mother holding my hand as the three of us stood at the curb waiting for Dad to return with the car, pick us up, and drive us home. We waited, and waited ... and waited.
Dad never returned that night.
And in my memory, that is the end: the three of us standing there, getting colder ... watching, waiting, wondering.
...an unfinished Christmas.
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Of course, there is more to this memoir. But, what if there wasn’t? What if that was all we could ever know? How strange to know there must be more, but be unable to know how things turned out.
It was my daughter who first suggested that this memoir, with all the waiting and watching, would make a great Advent reflection ... and I agree. It fits well with this week’s 2nd Peter selection with it’s emphasis on waiting, patience, and the timeless aspect of our relationship with God.
We’ve been waiting on God all these centuries, ever since Jesus came to us in human form ... while at the same time, God has been waiting on us. Yes, that’s right. Peter reminds us that while we’ve been patiently waiting on God to return, God has been patiently waiting until more of us are ready for that return.
It’s the story of a Christmas that had its beginning over 2,000 years ago and has remained open all this time ... waiting on us.
An unfinished Christmas, indeed.
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For the rest of the story, the fuller version of my Christmas memories can be read at: http://steveorr.blogspot.com/search/label/02Memoir-An%20Unfinished%20Christmas?m=0
If you are on my blog, see the list on the right side of the screen. Click on: 02Memoir-An Unfinished Christmas.
Photo Credit: (downtown Paducah Christmas lights) www.photonews247.com
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DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast continues via Zoom on Friday morning. Join us at 8:00 for a unique hour of Bible, discussion, and laughter. Bring your own breakfast beverage.
NOTE: Zoom allows you to mute the camera if you don’t wish to be seen and mute the microphone if you don’t wish to be heard.
Contact me if you want to attend. I’ll send you the Zoom link and alert our gatekeeper to let you in.
Blessings,
Steve
SCRIPTURES FOR THE COMING
Find them here:
https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu//texts.phdp?id=49
Isaiah 40:1-11
Psalm 85:1-2. 8-13
2Peter 3:8-15a (try reading this in The Message)
Mark 1:1-8
Second Sunday of Advent (December 6, 2020)
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