The Warmth of Christmas

As Mike sat watching the events of the day he was quiet. He watched people come and go all day long. Relatives were dropping by, staying for a while and then off to their do more of their own things. The family holds this part of their Christmas at Jeanette and Jim’s house the Saturday before Christmas. It is all about family and all the people that they have adopted into their family over the year(s). Jim and Jeanette have lots of adopted folk. Mike is one of them.

I have written of Mike before. Mike was released from prison this past summer. Originally he was to be possibly be granted a “compassionate parole” and come to be apart of the Peterborough Community Chaplaincy – but instead the National Parole Board granted him a full parole. Mike is now apart of the PCC and has become a part of our church too. Not only was he adopted by Jim and Jeanette, our church adopted him too.

Mike reflected on the events at Jim and Jeanette’s home last Saturday by telling Jeanette that she is one of the most blessed women that he knows. I think he described it by saying, “You are the best of blessed!”

It has been over 10 years since he has had any kind of real Christmas. This kind for sure may have never been. Mike has likely only read about the kind that Jim and Jeanette hold at the day long adventure at their home.

There is a warmth at Christmas that slowly makes its way into the hearts of people that participate. For me that is the deepest meaning of this season in Canada. That warmth comes when family and friends come together to share their love over food and games.

Last evening one part of our family met over food and fellowship. There was 10 of us around the dinning room table. After the meal we played games and just loved each other’s company. We will do it again at least three more times this next few days. This is Christmas Warmth and we love it.

This past year…I have come to realize…
In the middle of all that we are experiencing I am silent today as I think of those that will not have or experience what we have now.

Mike reminded me of this as I look at him these days. There are over 14,000 guys like Mike that are inside of our Federal Prisons in Canada. Each will got to bed tonight and these nights with only aching memories of Christmas past. Some of these are looking at a long stretch of 20 + years very much alone from their families and old friends.

In our Ontario Provincial Correctional System there is another 2000 plus men and women that are alone in even more decrepit situations while they wait for trials, complete their time of 2 years less a day – or some part there of.

In both the Federal and Provincial systems there is TV. In the Federal system the guys have TV in their cells that they pay for with its cable vision. In the Provincial system there is one TV for about 24 to 32 men. (they live in an range of cells).

Have you noticed the amount of Christmas programming on all the TV stations over these days? Pump that into each cell and then think about the heightened loneliness that they experience. Then add to that the fact that very few of us think about these folks at all.

THANK GOD THAT THEY ARE LOCKED UP!

Sorry – I can’t think that way… and I don’t! Many are in Prison because of severe mental health issues and shouldn’t be there. It is wrong – very wrong. Others – yes they should be there and they would agree.

BUT THAT IS PRISON and you need to look by that or you would never get by doing another thing with guys inside. You would die!

The only warmth of Christmas inside of Prison is the tears that role down the cheeks of guys that are so very much alone.

Mike – was right as he looked at Jim and Jeanette( and the rest of us…) WE ARE THE BEST OF THE BLESSED!

Then there was Africa…
In April we traveled to Kenya, Africa. While there these people came to reside close to our hearts. As I sit here today with the warmth of my Christmas around me – they are on my mind a lot lately. Specially I am tuned in my thinking to the Kibera, the world’s largest slum. It is in Nairobi and it is also visible from the satellite shots that Google Earth offers.

This weekend the people of the little church we attended will join together to sing from the bottom of their hearts – with a gusto that few Canadians will ever hear or ever know. I am convinced that these folks will lead God’s choir someday in heaven.

They however will not have what we have. The Kibera is a slum where people live against their will. They are in this situation as people with NOTHING. They live the best that they can.

What I did notice as we walked through this mass of humanity was a definite array of TV antennas from the metal shacks. I also noticed that they were watching similar TV to what we watch. This weekend will be filled with Christmas as well. Most programs are beamed in from RICH AMERICA. Most will depict a kind of Christmas that the kids will never understand – and there are millions watching our opulence.

My life today and my mind is stretched as I grasp Mike’s words again… “You are the BEST of the BLESSED!”

“Mike you are so right on!” Thanks for reminding me again as to what I have. Thank you so very much!!!

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~