For Christmas we came up to Seattle to share the holiday with Phil's parents and siblings. We haven't been up to visit since we moved back to California in July so it's been great to hug missed friends and experience an actual winter.
Through their church (occ.org), Phil's family has connected with a street kid ministry in Seattle called New Horizon's Ministries. They coordinated a back pack drive and also did a holiday party with the kids who otherwise wouldn't have experienced the love of community and alternative family on Christmas. Through their volunteer times spent with New Horizon's, they made some great connections with kids who came over yesterday for Christmas dinner.
When we talk in church about serving and loving those in need around us, I tend to shift uncomfortably in my seat at the thought of opening my home and family to being vulnerable. It's not that I worry about theft or safety, I'm just not sure how to do that. How do you invite a homeless kid, or any random person, into your home to share warmth and love? What if they are vegetarians? Can I get them a gift? But what do I get them? I know they are homeless, so do I invite them to stay the night? But what about the next night? What will it be like when I drive them back into the city and leave them on a street corner in the rain? "See you later" just doesn't fit.
Forget the hesitations, let me share with you how beautiful it was.
My father and sister in law left early to pick up Greg, 19, from a shelter he was sleeping outside of near downtown. You read that right- he was sleeping outside the shelter - he's on the wait list and may get a bed in early February, if he's lucky. They then picked up Sydney, also 19, and her 4 year old son Isaiah from the shelter they can sleep in until March. We at home just got ready like normal, finalizing the menu as the younger kids played video games Santa left them, all eager to continue celebrating the day with our new friends.
30 minutes before our guests were to arrive, the power went out. The wind was pretty bad so we thought it would be a temporary thing and just kept about the day. When the water stopped working we laughed that this would be like staying in Kenya. Phil called the power company to learn that something like 30 counties were out of power and it was being worked on. Around 3 we realized we should think about something else for dinner, and after a hilarious bout with the pork and BBQ girll, our buffet of mashed potatoes, apple sauce, and cookies Santa didn't eat wasn't going to cut it. Thankfully Denny's is open 24/7, so we all gathered and headed off.
It was terrific, we spent the day laughing and playing games and realizing first-world problems are not really problems, and even though the power was out we were still better off than most. I laughingly mentioned to Greg that this probably wasn't what he had imagined for Christmas day, and he put things into perspective, replying that he's homeless and would have been sitting out in the cold rain. Today he introduced us to cheesy grits and later is making a Cajun dish and fried chicken. He's a long way from where he came from, is seriously talented but is stuck in a life of poverty on the streets, just like thousands of kids around this country.
My heart aches to know that last night we gave him a warm bed and secure meal, will probably do the same tonight, but what about tomorrow? How can we help him? What will it be like when we take him back to the shelter he sleeps outside of? Will I say "It was a pleasure to meet to, hope to see you again" and then drive off, probably stopping by a store on the way home?
Realities like this round my mind and overwhelm my heart all the time, no matter where I am in the world. But because of people like my in laws, who don't mind being uncomfortable for the sake of helping others, I can be courageous and take the chance to enjoy company different than me- who really aren't so different. If not for them I probably would have limited my holiday service to a few hours at a soup kitchen, not even on Christmas.
So this CHRISTmas, I'm thankful for so many things. God blesses us in ways we can't even imagine, and its hard to remember that everyday. Yesterday I was excited the power went out and that we didn't have water and that we ate at Denny's! I think if we did the traditional chaotic glutinous thing it would have numbed us to the miracle Christmas is truly about. We were together and experienced love, joy, hope and goodness...it was perfect.
If you missed church, or want to experience some more Christmas before next year, check out this video message from Overlake Christian Church in Redmond, Washington. If you live in the Seattle area and want a church that truly represents the body of Christ and loves the unlovely, visit occ.org. If you'd like more information about street kids, visit untilthen.org.
God is good, all the time.
Home for Christmas from Overlake Christian Church on Vimeo.
