There was a group in the corner making up silly Christmas songs and Gerry McKellen was sitting at the end of the bar with a Santa hat that lit up and had reindeer antlers on it. I could put up with most of this stuff, but even my own bartending friend, Marty had a hat on that seemed to have elf ears on it. My corner watering hole had gone “Christmas”.
Most folks who knew me had the idea that Ebenezer Scrooge and I were related. I don’t know if that was because I said “Baa Humbug” a lot or because there was a rumor going around that I had chased away carolers from my dive motel’s parking lot. I am not willing at this time to confirm or not if this rumor was true. All I can say is that I was not a fan of Christmas.
I suppose I liked the holiday when I was a kid. I can remember with some fondness the anticipation of the day. The month of December. Putting up either an aluminum tree or a fake one that looked like it was made out of green dish scrubbing brushes. Of those two experiences, I guess the aluminum tree was the weirdest. You didn’t put tree lights on it, just had this spot light and a disk with multiple colored sections that spun and shone on the tree. Now it was blue, now it was green, yellow and red. If you remember those days, you get the idea. The best I can say is that it certainly did not give me the Christmas spirit. And the truth be known neither did the scrub brush tree, but at least it was green. Yeah there were toys and food, but nothing deep to hold on to.
I guess back then Christ was involved in our Christmas. We did have a Nativity Scene and there was the whole Advent season with certain days to light candles and stuff like that. But like all my Christian experiences from my childhood none of it took on a personal meaning, just things we did at Christmas, like eating turkey or watching Charlie Brown’s Christmas. It all left me kind of empty.
After I was married and had a son, I tried to make his Christmas special, but my wife and her family turned all our Christmases into a commercial adventure. I remember a year when my boy had so many presents to open that it took nearly an hour. It was unreal to me and I guess after the divorce the last thing I wanted to do was attend a Christmas where all that excess was going on. For the most part I had given up on this particular holiday. Then I spent a Christmas with Stevie.
There is no kind way of putting this, Stevie was a speed freak and an addict. He and I had partied together often. I knew him as just one of the many druggies that I spent most of my time with, being one myself. We never had any serious conversations just the usual ‘dope talk’ when we were getting high. He also hung around in that same corner bar I was describing as this blog opened.
It was that particular night when I was sitting there mumbling into my drink about the woes of Christmas, Stevie sat down next to me. He seemed high to me and my mind immediately went to finding out if he was holding any speed he would share, in the Christmas spirit, you know. I said, “Hey, brother, what’s up? You out partying tonight?” Trying to lead the conversation to my next question. But to my surprise Stevie looked at me sternly and said, “Nah, man, I can’t get high tonight. I am on shift at the soup kitchen downtown soon and they don’t let you work when you’re high.” Pulling back and just staring I said nothing. I guess he saw my surprise and just stated, “Hey John, it’s the Christmas season!” As if this was supposed to mean something to me. Then he blew my mind, he said, God’s Word says, “For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in…”. Right out of the book of Matthew, my friend and at this time of year, there are so many in need.” At that he laughed. I think it was because I was now looking at him as if he had grown a second head. The man I had thought of as just another druggie was actually a street preacher who worked with the homeless and hungry, or so I found out that night. I learned something so much deeper too.
I learned that night and to this day that God uses rusty tools, unfinished works of art and incomplete songs to fulfill and do His will. Stevie was all of those things, he was like you and like me a sinner and an incomplete work. His word says this, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) Back when I sat next to Stevie, I could not conceive or believe any of this. How could God use a drunk and a druggie like him or even worse, like me. But that Christmas season I got a glimpse.
Later that week I started going downtown with Stevie. I went with him as he worked the streets. Sharing God’s Word. I shared in serving food at the soup kitchen and I watched as God was slowly transforming him, showing him His plan. It changed him within the next year or so. Little by little he showed up less and less at the bar. When he did, he would invite me to continue working with him, but I was not ready.
Last time I saw him, I was on the run and heading to California. Stevie shook my hand and repeated Jeremiah 29:11 to me. He hugged me and said, “I will see you soon, brother.” This Christmas I do not say, “Baa humbug!” I never did again after Stevie showed me this season’s true meaning. I pray I can share that with you. May we all grow and show His love. “Hey, brother Stevie, I get it now, man, thanks for the season’s greeting!”
Blessings
John
12/3/18
