Remember last year on December 23? We had a terrible snow storm, considered the third worst since 1983 (the year I was ordained). The news said DO NOT TRAVEL at all! Stores, businesses closed earlier. We closed the church and I’m thinking this is OK. I got my tasks done, I have the Christmas homily written. I will do home, make some supper, settle in with a Christmas movie and just relax.
That is, until I was leaving Princeton, about to go on the entrance ramp onto Hwy 169, and I see a man hitching hiking. Now remember it’s a blizzard, it’s cold, nobody should be outside much less standing on the ramp with no wind barrier or shelter. And what did I do? I drove by. And as I looked at him in the rear view mirror, I’m thinking, “Dang it, he’s all alone.”
[Sing CHRISTMAS LULLABY by Amy Grant]
verse 1 Are you far away from home this dark and lonely night?
Tell me what best would help to ease your mind:
Someone to give directions for this unfamiliar road
Or one who says, “Follow me and I will lead you home.
Or one who says, “Follow me and I will lead you home.
So I pulled off took the service road next to Hwy 169, stopped at the Subway and picked up two sandwiches and two bottles of water . . . drove back onto the entrance ramp, hoping someone would have picked him up. Nope. So I had him come into my car. Now is a guy who I have picked up many times at the same stop, he’s on his way to the bus station in Elk River to catch a bus to go visit his sister in Wisconsin. And as I picked him up, I thought I can do this . . . go out of my way and take him all the way to Elk River.
And once he got in and we talked (he doesn’t act like he remembers me at all). I even know his name: Alan. Well I gave him his sandwich and water, then fussed at him for hitch-hiking in the third worst storm since 1983. “I know, I know,” but said, “but I didn’t want to be alone for Christmas.” And he kept saying, “I’m going to miss my bus.” “Ok, I’ll get you there. Are you sure the buses are running from Elk River?” “Oh my bus doesn’t go from Elk River anymore’ it goes from Roseville.” Roseville” You mean the one in St. Paul? Now remember no one is suppose to travel, and we are passing MANY cars in the ditch. And I shouldn’t even him in in my car with all the COVID scared before vaccinations got developed. And I can only crawl along and I have to stop every mile of so, to clear off the wiper blades.
“Roseville? How you are going to get there?” “I don’t know. I’m worried.” “UGH,” as I’m thinking of my nice warm couch with a good Christmas movie. “Are you sure the buses are even running tonight? “Yes, I’m sure.” Well I call the bus company as we crawl along. No answer, so I leave a message to call me back to make sure the buses are running in this third worst snow-storm since 1983.
And we talked and broke bread (well Subways anyway). He paints house, has seizers, can’t drive and just didn’t was to be alone for Christmas. And I thought, “you know, we are kind of living out a Christmas movie. And it’s not just that I am helping him get home, he’s helping me to find my way . . . to stop being so self-centered and thinking of only my needs. He was helping find my home, my center. Help me realize the meaning of Christmas.”
verse 2 How beautiful, how precious the Savior of old,
to love so completely the lonliest soul.
How gently, how tenderly He says to one and all,
“Child you can follow me and I will lead you home.”
Trust me and follow me and I will lead you home.
So, three hours of slow driving with many cars in the ditch. We made it to the Roseville Mall which didn’t look like a place where a bus would stop. I gave him some money and started the drive home, which only became worse because by then it’s night and I had to follow tail-lights to figure out if I was still on the road.
And when I was almost home, it’s late at night now. I am white-knuckling it and tense . . . I get a call from the bus company. They say, “We’ve never had a bus stop in Roseville.” OH!
I prayed for him. “Oh God, let him get home.” And it’s like God told me, “Don’t worry. He’s OK, I am with him. And you are OK Kevin. I am with you.”
The meaning of Christmas . . . is God becoming one of us, so that we realize that God is with us. God doesn’t stay up in the sky somewhere. God is not our there, but God is here with you . . . even if
- you feel like you are out in the cold, alone.
- or you are self-centered and thinking only of yourself.
- or you are in that lowly place of your life,
- or are not sure if others knew that issue in your life, that they would like you
- or when you wonder if anyone really cares what’s going on in your life.
God would say to you, here tonight (today), “You may feel lonely, but you are never alone. I am with you always. Welcome Home.”
Away In The Manger no crib a bed,
the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky, looked down where he lay,
the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.