The Coming of a Child

Perhaps you’ve read Brett Hart’s short story, “The Luck of Roaring Camp.” As the story goes, in a tough mining camp out west in the late 1880’s, a miner discovers a little baby who has been abandoned by his parents and he brings the baby back to camp. Not what any of the miners would have asked for – a baby. 

As soon as this baby is brought to the camp, the transformation begins. One by one, each of the miners becomes a different person. There are clothes to be made, meals to be prepared, washing and tending to be done, all for the little babe of Roaring Camp. 

Not only are individual miners transformed, but the whole camp as well. Swearing and cursing, fighting and feuding, once typical of Roaring Camp, cease. Each man tries to be on his best behavior because of the baby – because of the unasked for gift. 

I spoke along these lines last Sunday: the coming of a child lays a unique claim upon our lives. It expects the best of us. It pulls us out of ourselves, while also coaxing us to take an honest look within ourselves. It deepens our sensitivity to the needs of someone else. 

One might say that the coming of a child changes, realigns, shapes – even transforms our lives in phenomenally significant ways. 

As I write this it’s Wednesday evening and I’m looking forward to four days of worship experiences: 

• starting with the Longest Night Service on Thursday night at 7:00
• then our first “Christmas Eve” Service, on Friday night at 7:00, actually the night before Christmas Eve
• then our six services on Christmas Eve, 3:30, 5:00 (two services at this time), 7:00, 8:00, 11:00
• and our single service on Christmas morning at 10:00

I said that I’m “looking forward” to these worship experiences, and I am. I’m looking forward to singing the carols, to listening to the reading of God’s Word, to hearing the wonderful music of choirs and soloists. Most of all I’m looking forward to celebrating the birth of a baby who seeks to transform our lives in phenomenally significant ways and in so doing, to transform the world through the power of God’s amazing love.

See you in church!

Grace and Peace,