I have never been easily embarrassed. Perhaps that is why it was so easy for me to pedal through the tiny town of Nyaung-Shwe, Myanmar with a Christmas tree strapped to my bike sporting a Saint Nick outfit, joyfully wishing every passer by a “Merry Christmas” in 76 degree weather.
You see I had a bit of an Epiphany this Christmas Season. I still miss home, I still miss my family (ALOT). I miss going to Midnight Mass with my family, coming home putting baby Jesus in the Manger, and then waking up 6 hours later to stockings. Thereafter proceeding with eating my families infamous “English muffins, and Moshies”. I still miss spoiling my nephews, and coming together with my family for a Turkey dinner, and eating ALL the stuffing.
But I refuse to allow missing any of that rob a single ounce of my Joy. Because (and it took being away for Christmas for me to really understand this) the whole reason I even have Christmas to celebrate is because Jesus was born. Otherwise I would only have a pagan/hallmark holiday to look forward too.
So I have a choice, I could either be sad, and miserable that I am away from Family and Friends for the holidays (by calling and choice). Or I could choose to still celebrate the whole reason families are coming together over the next few days. I am not an orphan, and I refuse to act like one. I have all things in Christ, so I can give him my burdens and worries and ask for Joy in return.
So I chose a crazy alternative. I chose to defy my natural instinct to be sad. Instead I decided to not be overcome by loneliness and sadness, but rather to overcome it, and spread exciting greetings, and good cheer. There is a local American person here, who is a believer, but had no tree, nor time to celebrate. So I decided it was time to change that. Thus I embarked from my weary state and went out and bought a fun red “outfit”, then tried to bargain with a local for the first tree I saw. When they didn’t care to sell me a tree I prayed to the lord to get me one. 5 minutes later I had a tree and decorations.
I biked through town as earlier described, then 2.5 km outside of town cheering and changing the atmosphere one person at a time. Upon my arrival God completely changed the atmosphere right away! Smiles went up on everyone’s face. Within 5 minutes we were singing Christmas tunes, setting up the tree, (with 3 local believers children too) and reminded ourselves that the whole reason we are all here doing what we are doing is because God came down…and just that part alone is so overwhelming that it changes the WORLDS atmosphere EVERY year on the date WE chose to unite and celebrate it. P.S. that means we have Authority, especially when we ALL come together in agreement.
I miss my family just as much as the next M*ssi0nary, but you can allow that to be something good. If you just give it to God. I know I will choose to honor God on this Christmas because he is the main requirement for Christmas, not the other way around. It is a grateful bonus to have family to celebrate it with. But I will still Joyfully celebrate Christmas because of the reality of the birth of our Savior is still present even in Myanmar and I want this nation, and the world to know it. They need to know why the crazy man with a Christmas tree strapped down, dressed as Saint Nick is ridding around on a rented bike ringing a bell exclaiming “Merry Christmas”.
To sum up what I learned through this it is that;
Situations/Circumstances do not dictate the amount of Joy I have in my life. But rather the reality of the BIRTH, life,death, Resurrection, and love of Jesus Christ does. That is why Christmas will always be joyful for me.
Merry Christmas, one and all! May this season be filled with much Cheer, Joy, and proclamation of God’s goodness. May we practice Charity to strangers, and love to the Orphans and Widows, especially in this season. For God so loved the world…
here is some pictures from today that I took from the last part of the experience.
