Faith + Life

The cafeteria was barren. It was usually filled with people at lunch time. It seemed so empty. There we only a few people scattered around the room…and me.

Most of you were at home or visiting family. You were having festive lunches and dinners that day. Around me there were a few smiles, but most of the faces showed

• sadness,
• concern,
• fear,
• fatigue, and, in a few cases,
• seemingly limitless horror.

It was just another day at work…only on Christmas Day.

How dreadful…

The concept may seem simply awful to you…working on Christmas Day. It wasn’t so bad. My family had made holiday plans for the following week. Everyone else in my department needed off to host family or work at church. I had done my last service the night before, on Christmas Eve, and just kept on working…

I still had to justify it within. I was, after all, working on Christmas Day. My simple decision that day was to make the best of it.

How, exactly, does one make the best of working on Christmas Day?

Thinking of You

My simple answer was to think of others as I believe that Christ thinks of you and me. I was determined, at least, to try it.

I took candy and Christmas cards to work. Every nurses’ station got a card. I left one in the security office. I put one in the housekeepers’ lounge. I gave candy to anyone who would accept it. I sang! I laughed! Co-workers, patients and visitors often sang and laughed…with me or at me? That really doesn’t matter…

We also sighed, together. Some of us cried, together. A few of us asked, “Lord, why today?”

Firsts

That was a day of firsts.  That was the first Christmas day that I had

• ever gone to work.
• ever consoled a grieving family.
• held someone’s hand as they died.
• prayed with a family at the death of a loved one.
• encountered the Risen Christ.

Where, exactly, had I seen Jesus?

He wasn’t in the decorations, the carols, the presents, the candy, or the cookies. Frankly, I had never seen him in those things, anyway, and haven’t to this day.

Seeing Jesus

On that Christmas Day, I found Jesus in the hands and faces of

• housekeepers doing their informal counseling as they cleaned;
• maintenance technicians as they changed light bulbs;
• security officers as they showed compassion to the distraught;
• patients as they suffered;
• family members as they prayed;
• visitors who took time, on Christmas Day, to think of someone else;
• medical technicians;
• nurses;
• doctors who didn’t begrudge their presence that day; and, I pray,
• the only chaplain working that day.

I’m pretty certain about all of those sightings of Jesus, except the last one. I thought about stopping to thoroughly check the chaplain’s face, but was too enthralled with all the other appearances of Christ on Christmas Day to look in the mirror.

I hope those who saw me, the chaplain, really saw him …the Christ. I hope my prayers, my presence, my tears, my hugs, my words, and even the candy and cards I handed out, aren’t remembered as mine. I hope they are remembered as his.

That was the first time I had ever really encountered Christ on Christmas Day.

He’s Still not…

I have yet to see him in the festive decorations. I have never seen him in presents under a tree. Even though I know the origin of the custom, I have never seen him in stockings hung on the mantle. I have never seen him in a rich holiday dinner, unless it’s served to Christ, himself, in the person of one who is usually without.

I like holidays. I like to spend them with my family, just like most of you. That causes me a problem…

I have seen Christ on Christmas Day!

A Problem Remains…

Without Christ, the traditions seem fun and refreshing, but they lack that healing, saving, forgiving, grace-filled quality that Jesus brings to the table. So, I struggle…torn between loves. I love my family and want to be with them in celebration. I love my Savior and want to be with him on the day that bears his name.

I have seen Christ on Christmas Day!

Talk Back!

Now, you know why my best Christmas experience was a day at work. It’s your turn. If you’d be so kind, tell me about

• your most moving Christmas experience,
• what you thought of my Christmas experience,
• what you felt as you read this piece,
• how you plan to find Christ in Christmas.

May he show us the way both to experience and be his presence on that day…and all the others.

Blessings,
/jmt

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Photo credits:

modomatic; pinksherbet