It was the Eve of Christmas Eve and I stopped by the grocery store with a friend to pick up some last minute holiday items. We had been running errands together at all corners of my city. The large thermos of tea I drank along the way had worked it's way through my digestive track hours prior. We enter the store and I leave my friend waiting as I beeline it to the bathroom. Down the hall to the bathroom I spot a dark figure leaning against the wall. He was a man dressed in all black and he looked despicable, dirty and untrustworthy. I thought to myself,
"He's waiting for a lady like myself to walk in there alone so he can sneak in and mount an assault. Why didn't I bring my gun purse!?"
I enter the bathroom and am happy to see two normal looking middle class ladies so I know I'm not alone....yet. There was a third lady, more like an IT. You know, "she" had long hair but emitted male vibes something fierce and her facial structure was more masculine. I didn't focus clearly on 'it' but I look long enough to know this dirty human was the counterpart to the dark figure waiting outside the door. I thought to myself,
"Oh great, Now I have to escape the Tranny accessing a woman's bathroom just so he/she can try to assault me!"
This he/she was doing something suspicious in the sink; something extracurricular to public sink business. Like rinsing his/her mouth out or something; definitely out of place; the business of drug addicts. And with the exceeding out-of-place-ness this human manifested I set out to squat and pee as quick as I could, then get the Hell outta there. I squat down and wondered if I'd have the emotional fortitude to kick it's face if he/she came for me under the stall and recoil at the thought. Will anyone help me if I scream? I get myself re-dressed speedy Gonzales style and head towards the dreaded sink where the he/she was thankfully just finishing up.
The 'it' heads out but I wait for another lady to finish as I don't want to touch the handle where the 'it' just was. And by the way, the 'it' stunk like homeless ick so I had a completely rational desire to avoid this same faucet handle. He/she's face was covered in sores. I could see scabies or some gross bacteria infecting my hands and spreading to my whole body. Or maybe it was leprosy I'd pick up? It could make a come back in the states, and if so it was definitely going to happen through this human.
I quickly washed my hands using the 'safe' second sink. Emerging through the threshold of the laboratory un-assualted I felt like a freed captive getting away from the clutch of a perpetrator unscathed. I was still whole, uninfected by this filthy, questionable figure.
Confirming my suspicions that the two characters were a team I see the male dressed in black greet the he/she and mumble something about boots. I slow my movement intending to stay behind them, to keep a watchful eye on them. This gave me a chance to assess the unloveliness a little better. Rotten teeth, dirty clothes, and double the stench when they joined side by side. And the sores covering the face on the he/she were a perfect commercial on why NOT to do Meth. They begin walking down the hall towards the busy hustle and bustle of the pre holiday rush.
I hear a 'clomp-clomp'. My friend is waiting right outside the hall and we start heading towards the front of the store to grab a cart. The two figures stay ahead of us and the source of the 'clomp-clomp' becomes obvious. The sole of the boot on the he/she had come completely off from the body of the boot, except for the toe area. This caused 'it' to walk with a pitiful awkwardness as it tried to step forward and land the heal on the center of the unruly sole. I watched as the heal would miss and land on the verge of the right or left side of the sole. The loud 'Clomp-Clomp' drew attention to the boots echoing it's broken-ness above the clatter of the busy walkway. I felt embarrassed for the boots, embarrassed that the poor state of these boots were making a spectacle of this troubled soul. As we neared the stores entrance some strange urgency filled the air around me and I sense my friends rapid steps towards the 'seen better days' booted figure. With almost a desperate lunge towards the person my friend quickly heads right behind 'it' and says,
"Miss, Miss!" No response. Again, I wonder if the lack of response is because the middle aged person isn't used to being referred to as 'Miss' or maybe the pronoun is wrong and it goes by 'They' or 'feline' or something strange.
Again, more forceful this time and right up to the booted figure, my friends says "Miss!" and stares him/her right in the face to stop the onward march and demand attention.
With gentle pleading in my friends voice I hear, "I'd like to get you some new boots if you'd let me. Can we do that?"
He/she didn't reply but seemed a little stunned, like the words spoken were spoken in an unknown foreign language and he/she was about to spurt out, "No habla Espanol". Again, my friend repacked the offer, trying to sound more appealing; more clear and inviting.
"Miss, we could go try on some new boots, if you're not in a hurry? I'd be happy to get you some new boots."
Clearly comprehending the words being said the figure peered down at the boots and said, "Oh, these just broke apart, but I have another pair of boots at home, so it's ok." (*Note from the author. Considering the figure has at this point responded to the term 'Miss' he/she will henceforth be referred to as 'She').
Then the look came. A look you don't forget.
She stared right back at my friends eyes. It was intense and unguarded. It was from the depth of the soul and she exclaimed, "That is so incredibly kind of you!" A subtle but unmistakable smile surfaced on the face of the stranger. My friend smiled back and said, "Merry Christmas", and the party of two departed outside leaving our party of two.
I say to my friend, "If that was a test, and that was an angel in disguise, YOU JUST TOTALLY NAILED IT!"
I chuckle a little, straighten my neck, puff out my chest, feeling pride that I have this friend with me. A friend that hurries off to chase after the unlovely, because a need is screaming out so obviously, so brutally, on the Eve of Christmas Eve. A friend moved by compassion, who ACTS on that compassion with resolve and unabandon. What a friend!
"My friend is the top G, the real deal! I'm so proud to finish shopping with this friend; MY FRIEND."
We attended a Christmas Eve service that evening and the Pastor so eloquently highlighted the importance of how God choose to announce the good news of Jesus's birth to the world. He choose a group of 'nobodies' that were marginalized and looked down upon in society at that time. He announced it to the outcasts of the day, the 'unlovlies' fulfilling an undesirables occupation. He announced the coming of the most important figure in human history to poor shepherds.
Luke 2:8-15
"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
I don't mean to sound cliché, but this brief encounter was out of a Hallmark movie and inspired my heart to dwell on the true meaning of Christmas. In St. Nicolas style, what else drives this home better than noticing the needs or others (whether our own children, family, friends, or complete strangers) and trying to help meet a need, if given the opportunity.
This was me. The friend was the holy spirit. I figuratively left the holy spirt outside that bathroom when I entered in operating out of fear and suspicion. Jesus promised his holy spirt would indwell his followers providing comfort, helping them discern the truth, and enabling supernatural power and abilities. It was the holy spirit who swiftly welled up an urgent sense of compassion inside of me. The holy spirit took me from fearing this shady character and wanting nothing to do with her, to literally chasing her down to connect and try to help her.
I do wish I could have had the heart warming satisfaction of seeing her walk out of that store with brand new boots, but the offer is everything. And often, the offer is all we have. It's what Jesus offers all humanity, being no respecter of persons. From the destitute 'un-lovlies', to the polished and well kept; the rich and the poor; those who are full of pride in their own sense of goodness, and those who are tormented by the evil they have done. The offer is extended. 2000 years ago, the good news was announced. Jesus, the Savior! The receiving of his saving grace is our choice.
John 1:12- The offer to be in right standing before God, accepted as his child
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God..."
Revelation 3- The offer of friendship with God
Revelation 3:19b-20
So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
Titus 3:5- The offer to have new inner life, comfort and empowerment of the Holy Spirit
...he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,...
John 3:16- The offer of Eternal Life, saved from eternal separation from God
For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life.
Acts 4:12- No other way
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.
Merry Christmas! May all who read this be recipients of God's peace and favor.
