Turnaround Time

Sometimes Plan B’s the better one.

Last night I hurried past the Salvation Army bellringer,  stationed outside  our Market Basket.  I reasoned, “Running late, sent a check last week.” As I  pulled away, I caught a glimpse of her, jumping around to keep warm and thought, “Stop.” After fumbling for some small bills, I rushed back to shove some money through the red bucket’s slot. She startled me with, “Thanks for turning around.  It means a lot to me that you  came back. God bless you.”

Sometimes B stands for Best, when God’s in it.

What if the Bethlehem Innkeeper’d said,”Come on it.  We’ve got one lovely room available.  No pets allowed.”

What he did say was, “No room in the Inn but…how about the barn?”

Can you imagine the story without the animals and those who tended them?

Can you picture Mary, Joseph and  God’s son born in a magnificent palace or temple?

Me, either.

So many rules to enter the world’s fancy places, none to shuffle into an old stable.

That’s part of why I love the Gaither’s song, “Come and See What’s Happenin’ in the Barn.”

One verse reads,”Sometime before dawn I was awakened

Light was floodin’ through the widow pane

A star as bright as moonlight was a shinin’

And pretty music I could not explain

I ran downstairs to have a look around

I  tell you I could not believe my eyes

A crowd had gathered all around the manger

And they were talkin’ bout God’s big surprise.”

There’s so much to talk about these days: weather, politics, budgets, vaping and flu season, to name a few.”

What if we stilled ourselves, did a turnaround and walked back to a barn in Bethlehem? Imagine taking a deep breath and long look, sensing it’s me, not just them who need a Savior, Christ the Lord?

God’s Plan B: a

Baby

Born in a

Bethlehem

Barn, where “all we like sheep who’ve gone astray” are welcome.

“How silently, how silently

The wondrous gift is giv’n!

So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of his heav’n.

No ear may hear his coming;

But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive him, still

The dear Christ enters in.”

Turnaround Time?

 

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