This was my journal entry from twenty years ago:
25 Dec 1998
"Just got up. I had a long and detailed dream this morning. I was at a mall, only it wasn't a mall. It was something out of my imagination. My companion and I went to a restaurant that was off in a corner. There were Christmas decorations everywhere. I ordered some food and goodies then sat down. I ate but there was way more than I could eat, so I saved the goodies on the seat for later, then decided to go look around. The stores were all closing and people were going home. I walked around the court browsing around a kiosk that was in the center of the court. It was a Mcdonalds under construction but people happened to be selling random food out of it anyway. Everything was almost deserted so I decided to go back and get the things I had left at the restaurant. When I walked in, I saw Santa off to the side. It appeared as though he was putting Christmas presents under a tree. I walked quietly to retrieve my things, trying not to disturb him, intently watching him every step of the way. Then, without turning around, he said a few words that will probably change my outlook on the rest of my mission. He whispered with despair in his voice and said,
"We have the same mission."
It's interesting because when I first came on a mission. All I wanted was to help people, to serve and to love them. My goal hasn't really changed but it has been distracted though, by people that suck. People that push numbers and don't share the same desire. "We have the same mission." It's not so much the words, but who said them."
To elaborate a bit and echo a sentiment from a book we are reading this month in book club called "Beautiful Outlaw". Christ was a wanted man, an outlaw. He had to sneak around much like Santa does.
Jesus endured a constant barrage of politicians and clergymen alike, trying to take him down because he bucked the trend and broke their rules. Through all this, he LOVED. He truly loved with all that he is. Bringing joy to those who believe.
This holiday season, I challenge myself to be more like Santa. To share his mission. To love and serve as Christ did.
25 Dec 1998
"Just got up. I had a long and detailed dream this morning. I was at a mall, only it wasn't a mall. It was something out of my imagination. My companion and I went to a restaurant that was off in a corner. There were Christmas decorations everywhere. I ordered some food and goodies then sat down. I ate but there was way more than I could eat, so I saved the goodies on the seat for later, then decided to go look around. The stores were all closing and people were going home. I walked around the court browsing around a kiosk that was in the center of the court. It was a Mcdonalds under construction but people happened to be selling random food out of it anyway. Everything was almost deserted so I decided to go back and get the things I had left at the restaurant. When I walked in, I saw Santa off to the side. It appeared as though he was putting Christmas presents under a tree. I walked quietly to retrieve my things, trying not to disturb him, intently watching him every step of the way. Then, without turning around, he said a few words that will probably change my outlook on the rest of my mission. He whispered with despair in his voice and said,
"We have the same mission."
It's interesting because when I first came on a mission. All I wanted was to help people, to serve and to love them. My goal hasn't really changed but it has been distracted though, by people that suck. People that push numbers and don't share the same desire. "We have the same mission." It's not so much the words, but who said them."
To elaborate a bit and echo a sentiment from a book we are reading this month in book club called "Beautiful Outlaw". Christ was a wanted man, an outlaw. He had to sneak around much like Santa does.
Jesus endured a constant barrage of politicians and clergymen alike, trying to take him down because he bucked the trend and broke their rules. Through all this, he LOVED. He truly loved with all that he is. Bringing joy to those who believe.
This holiday season, I challenge myself to be more like Santa. To share his mission. To love and serve as Christ did.
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