I Would See Jesus! A Christmas Story in the Ocoee Region

by: Carole Hicks

I tell you the Truth … my desire this Christmas season … my prayer and at the top of my “wish list” was simply … to see Jesus.  I confess that disappointment and disillusionment had caused an uncomfortable amount of cynicism to grow in my heart and mind, especially the gross amount of “things” that we fill our lives with … things that are “just things” and end up meaning nothing at all, especially nothing to do with the REASON FOR THE SEASON.
As I broached this holiday season, I prayed, and asked God to let me see His Son.

“I want to see Jesus.” I said to Him.  “I want to see His story told as it has been for many years.  No technical light show. No “drummers drumming, ladies’ dancing or five golden rings.”  I just want to see the story of hope through Your Son Jesus Christ.”  I wanted to see and feel and hear … to experience … the JOY of Christmas in the purest form.

In my feeble and limited perspective,  I thought that would be through the “telling” of the Nativity story … complete with shepherds in bathrobes, and angel wings made out of coat hangers and shiny garland … a bale of hay, and Mary and Joseph and a baby doll, all with a glittering star hanging overhead.”

I called all across the Ocoee Region asking different churches about their Christmas presentations … and either from a lack of information or a “plan”  —  or the simple truth that there would be no such presentation, I was somewhat disappointed with the information that I was given (or not given) in some instances. Oh there were musicals, cantatas and plenty of other kinds of presentations, but only a few who could answer in the affirmative, “Yes, we will be presenting the Nativity story at our church.”

I’m sure as more plans unfolded … there were more churches who did or will present the story.  The problem seemed to be a lapse in “communicating” that information to people who might be “looking for Jesus” as I was.  This added to my growing cynicism, and so I prayed again and said, “Lord … have we [the church] also taken Your Son out of Christmas?  How will people who don’t know Your Son, hear about Him, if we don’t tell the Story?”

Well … I think God said to me … once again, “I don’t need a presentation to tell people about My Son.  You don’t need to look for a play, a song, or a film to see My Son.”  And that’s when The Christmas Story truly began to unfold …

The Inn Was Full To Capacity!

It is an uncomfortable and unsavory circumstance for anyone to find themselves  “homeless” and having to bed down with complete strangers at night (if they are lucky) — the unlucky ones bed down “wherever.”   But imagine a husband and wife, and their five children, in that situation.

A simple statement was made about the situation at the local Emergency Shelter that was full to capacity.  The accommodations were lacking, but at least it was a warm place to stay at night.  The statement was that there were no towels and the managers had resorted to tearing up bed sheets for the guests to dry on.  The simple statement quickly evolved to a community towel drive for the shelter with more than 250 towels collected for their supply closet.

But that was only the front side of the story.  The statement about the conditions at the Shelter included the information that a family of seven (five children ages 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10) were staying in one room of the shelter.  Once “communicated” through whatever “people network” (word of mouth) took place, an incredible Christmas (GOD) story began to “play out” right before the eyes of everyone watching.

It’s a story good enough for the Hallmark Channel … telling how hundreds of people became a part in how God intended for His story … His Son’s story  … to be told.  I was personally reminded many times over during this holiday season of the book and musical, Experiencing God, by Henry Blackaby.  He urges to “look for what God is doing and join Him there.”  I knew that this community was full of good, caring, decent people who loved the Lord and each other.  But my cynicism and skepticism offered doubt that any response to the needs of this family would take place without “one church or another” taking the lead (and maybe even the credit) for the mission.  But this is not the case …

Again, I believe God disproved that theory by showing me in no uncertain terms that HE IS ON HIS THRONE and HE IS THE ONE WHO MOVES and SHAKES … and HIS TERRITORY is more FAR-REACHING than any ONE PERSON, ONE BODY of BELIEVERS or ONE DENOMINATION.  And, HIS GLORY cannot be shared.

So as I sat with my laptop … in lap … communiqués from people I did not even know began to filter through my emails.  Messages were left on my phone from folks I absolutely did not know.  Each of these wanted to know how to be involved in ministry to this family.  I was able to witness THE BODY OF CHRIST come together without a designated leader … a designated mission team … without a designated “vision” statement or even an organized collective effort.  People just made themselves and their resources available to be involved in “what God was doing, right here where we are.”

As I watched it all take place, I believe that I have been given the greatest Christmas present I’ve ever received.  My heart is full to overflowing to have a bird’s eye view of such a big and incredible picture of the Body of Christ working as it should be.

This morning, I dropped by the home of William and Mandy, who now reside at a house on Norman Chapel Road (two houses directly behind Wesley UMC).  I was warmly welcomed inside the home and met with the gleeful faces of five precious children.  They were so excited, smiling and laughing and showing me the ENORMOUS Christmas tree that someone had brought to their new home.  Mandy invited me to sit on the couch and as I did, I said, “So tell what’s been going on.”

Several times, she was on the verge of tears.  Their lives have gone from hopeless to hope at lightening speed.  She expressed that their heads were mostly spinning at how everything had come together.  Even at the Shelter, Mandy seemed to be holding up under the circumstances.  But today, there was a peaceful difference in her demeanor and her face.

The children wanted to show me their bedrooms.  They were so excited!  Someone brought them a bed (one of those that have a bunk on top and then a futon type on the bottom).  This went to the little girls, and allowed their twin beds to go to the brothers.  The boys were very  excited about their room too, pointing out a “cool” black light clown poster they had put on the wall.  Then they showed me their “big bathroom” and the youngest one, Will, (age 2), told me that he got to put “bubbles in the tub.”

I stood in the dining room, looking out the French doors to the backyard, and watched Austin, (age 10) ride his bike around the parking lot of the Methodist church (their landlords).  The large dining room table was set up neatly with placemats for every one … and even a booster chair for Will.  Honestly, it was all I could do to hold back my emotions.  I was so thankful for them.

Then Mandy said, “We’ve been so blessed.  All we want to do is just stay home.  We spent 35 days, all day, in the van.  These little ones were so confined and now they are able to be at home.  We’re so blessed.”

Mandy and William both said they wanted to write letters to everyone who had helped them, but they didn’t even know who they all were.  I told her … it didn’t matter because they too were blessed to be able to help.   I told her I would certainly convey  appreciation through the same network of people … but that we all could thank God for allowing us to be a part of His story.

I knew that their hope was to keep the children in Blythe-Bower School because they were doing well there and it had been a source of stability for them.  Living on Norman Chapel Road, I knew transportation would be an issue if they didn’t have gas to get them to school.  Today, as she was telling of how the pieces of the puzzle had come together — she said that someone from the school came by to check on them and tell them that because of the “Homeless Act” — there is a grant or something that provides for bus transportation for the children to remain in Blythe-Bower.

At that news … I was overwhelmed with God’s affirmation and Presence in this situation.  I said to all of them, “My friends, for some reason Divine Providence has brought you here … whether it’s for you, or for us … or for these precious children … God means to get our attention here.  WE must thank Him. We must acknowledge His Hand in this.  THIS IS a GREAT CHRISTMAS STORY!”

And they absolutely agreed.

Now to you, my dearest friends and neighbors … this is a story that we should all hold near and dear to our hearts and tell again and again.

It’s REAL LIFE … Emmanuel — “God With Us.“   I can only guess that hundreds of people have been affected (and have been “effective”) in this story.   Perhaps the “Innkeeper” who provided a manger for Mary and Joseph never even realized the role he played in the greatest story ever told.

Perhaps many of us may not realize the role we have played in this Christmas story.   But I promise each of you this … you drop by that house on Norman Chapel and you will see the glory of the Lord shining on the faces and through the eyes of those children.

What we ought to do is “all gather in the parking lot of Wesley UMC on Tuesday evening about 7:00 PM and conduct a carol sing to celebrate this most memorable Christmas for this family … and let’s face it, for us too.”

In fact, if you are up for that, join me there.  And bring a “Merry Christmas” card to give the family so they can know their new friends and neighbors in this fine community of believers.  (or maybe you and your small group would like to go at some other time to carol and card)

On behalf of William, Mandy and the children … thank you all for being the hands and feet (The BODY) of Christ.

Merry Christmas!!!

~ by Carole on December 21, 2008.