Why can’t I find you?
(Disclaimer: I am not making this stuff up.)
Last night after receiving not so good news about my Dad’s health I began to really miss home. I was laying in a top bunk in the cheapest hostel we could find somewhere in Malaysia not feeling the holiday cheer. All of a sudden, God reminded me of the sweet gift that my Mom and Stepdad gave me at the last minute before I left: a strand of battery powered ENO tent Christmas lights!!! I hurried out of my top bunk and found the lights, strung them up on my bunk curtain, and turned on a little reminder of Christmas! It’s the strangest thing. Every time I hit the “On” button immediately a smile spreads across on my face.
The following morning I awoke and began my quiet time, reading, and listening to worship music. Everyone was still sleeping so the internet was actually strong enough for me to turn on ITunes Radio. I turned to a Christmas station and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” came on the radio. I began to pray:
“God, I am away from it all. I am away from an American Christmas filled with kids jingle belling, holiday greetings, and caroling out in the snow. Without it all, is this still the most wonderful time of the year? I am in a bunk, in a hostel, in a predominately Muslim country, in the middle of the warm rainy season. God, is this really the most wonderful time of the year?”
During my prayer the song ends and a new one begins. I literally hear:
‘Cause it’s Christmas everywhere
Every village and every town
And anywhere a heart God came to give His gift to
Can be found
Sing it out
Heaven & nature
Sing joy, joy to the world
Oh, listen and you’ll hear the angels heralding the news
Glory to God in the highest
And on this Earth, God is with us
Wherever we are, everywhere it’s Christmas
Everywhere, it’s Christmas
And this is how my life is everyday on the race. When I ask faithfully, when I pray expectantly, and when I listen carefully God speaks. He speaks clearly and through a wide variety of means. But no doubt, He very clearly answers me. And every time, my jaw drops and my heart bows in awe of the reality of His holy awesomeness. In awe of the fact that our galactic God cares enough about the little things in my life to audibly remind me that Christmas is everywhere, wherever we are, because Christmas is everywhere we are. Christ. The reason for the season.
Okay Christmas.
I found you!
