This month in Malaysia has been a swirling time warp of being awake with banging drums, whistles and dance parties (aka Christmas caroling) till early in the morning, along with reaching a new level of late eating and sleeping half the day away.
My mind is a windstorm, brewing on how easily one can become accustomed to eating lunch at 4 or 5, dinner at midnight, and yet how my body cannot seem to catch up or fully embrace the Malaysian way of life.
We have been staying at and working with Bethel Assembly church in a small town called Sungai Petani. Amidst visits to a children’s home and a nursing home/facility for the physically and mentally impaired, we have also had many late ministry nights with Bible studies, worship practice, prayer groups, church service, and most of all, Christmas caroling!
The first time I heard that the spreading of good cheer would roll until 1 or 2 in the morning, I just about laughed out loud! Come to think of it, maybe I did…
You expect me to sing, smile, be merry and show the love of Christ until 1 a.m.?!
Very funny.
If there is one thing I wish the Malaysians understood about me, it is that I am a morning dove, not a night owl!!
As I have been told, sleep is spiritual…and I like to be spiritual at a very normal, early hour of the night!
Unfortunately morning does not exist in their vocabulary – unless it is dark/morning.
As we dressed up in our bright pink shirts (and red striped shirts for the men) around 6:30 to head out, I mentally prepared myself to keep smiling for the next 7 hours.
To keep spreading the love and light that Christ brought to the world through His birth.
To bring good news and good cheer to many homes including Hindu families.
We would pile in the van and file into the caroling caravan, driving from house to house, singing, dancing, eating, praying for the families and wishing them a Merry Christmas.
As the clock ticked on, I slowly began to fade.
Through my blurry vision, foggy head, and forced smile, I just focused on the families we were singing to and the reason we were there.
Most everyone had smiles on their faces and clapped along with us as we sang. Some even came into the middle circle and danced with the energetic ones.
A few however – some of the Hindus – stared at us with blank expressions. Some would start off with a hardened presence and by the time we were finished, they would be smiling. Others wouldn’t look us in the eye until the very end when we would go up, shake their hand and say Merry Christmas.
I started to notice all the ones who looked a little hardened toward us and would pray for them as we sang. Every single one, gave a warm smile and hugged me back as we said thank you and gave well wishes afterwards.
I realized that as we spread Christmas cheer at 1 in the morning, whether I saw it or not, God was moving in the homes of those we entered.
More than being spiritual while sleeping, I know that upon entering those Hindu homes, the very presence of God was with us and the families felt it. Even if they didn’t know it at the time. The Lord works in mysterious ways and He can even use late night caroling to further His kingdom.
At 1 in the morning, maybe..
…just maybe…
Hearts were softened
Hope was given
Light was poured out
Just as it did the night of Jesus’ birth.
That is what spreading cheer is all about!!!
