Christmas is a time for gathering families and friends together. Perhaps you already have a houseful of guests. Thank you for taking time to join me for another “Advent Adventure.”
Our home in San Antonio del Monte was smack in the center of the town. We quickly learned the reason for this. We were the only ones with a Coleman lantern and when we lit it, the light shone out through the slat walls and illuminated the entire town. As I wrote home, “When we turn on the lantern at night, it is just an invitation to gather. Once, we had the entire town squeezing into our kitchen!”
One day, Judy and I packed our canteens, a picnic lunch, and a few books in our backpacks and hiked some distance to a river for some time by ourselves. We decided to cross the river at the rapids, where it was shallower in order to sit on a sunny escarpment on the other side. All went well, until we both lost our footing and ended up being pulled under by the strong current. I managed to grab a tree branch, but Judy went sailing by. I scrambled up the far embankment, and the only thing I could see was Judy’s straw hat floating downstream. She clambered out 50 yards later. We reconnoitered and discovered that all we lost was one sock, one hat, one literacy book, and all our pride! That night we were the talk of the town!
In heaven, Jesus was constantly surrounded by angels and archangels. When he came to earth, crowds flocked to him. In Mark 3:20-21, so many people gathered that he and the disciples did not even have time to eat. When Jesus withdrew so the disciples could rest by themselves after the death of John the Baptist, 5000 people followed them. Yet Jesus had compassion on the crowd. He who had no home became the host, welcoming each person, adult or child.
Whether you host an event this season or attend as a guest, take time today to make each person feel welcome.
