Thanksgiving — cornucopias, fall harvests, turkey and pump­kin pie, corn stalks, and scarecrows — outward signs associated with the holiday we celebrated only seventeen days ago. Even be­fore Halloween and Thanksgiving ended, holiday colors had changed. Orange pumpkin lights were replaced by white or multi­colored twinkling lights.

A small town policeman looks forward every year to hanging his outside Christmas lights. His goal is to measure up to Chevy Chase's outlandish display in the movie, Christmas Vacation. So far his record is 18,000 twinkling lights — only 7,000 more to go!

Like John Grishman's book, Skipping Christmas, Frosties be­gin to adorn yards and rooftops. Let's not forget the Dr. Suess char­acter, the "Grinch Who Stole Christmas." His inflatable green body, topped with a red Santa hat, sits a few feet away from a lighted, plastic Nativity scene. Retail stores remove Halloween candies from their shelves, replacing them with candy canes and red and green wrapped Hershey kisses. A new season of consumer buying is her­alded with the seasonal shopping flyers. "Happy holidays!" we hear more often each year. But for many this is more than a holiday season that bridges the 25 days of commercialism. Christians call this season Advent — a bridge that announces the entry of God from heaven into our world.

Yes, many of us cringe when we see early Christmas decora­tions thrown up, or hear "Rudolf, The Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Frosty The Snowman," and "Jingle Bells" playing over the PA systems in stores. Excitement rises as the Sear's Christmas catalog arrives in many homes. As a child, I devoured every page. "Santa Mom" was busy "Makin' a list, checking it twice — what store is promising the bestest price?"

Wait! Let's not get riled up. Focus on the real preparation — the excitement of the celebration of the day the greatest gift ar­rived — God in human form. Jesus, the reason for the season. We give our thanks, along with Mary, his mother, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed" (Luke 1:46b-48). Mary was blessed because she surrendered to God's plan. The time had ar­rived! She was prepared to cross that bridge from being a humble servant to being the mother of the Savior of the world.

That Christmas Eve the world was full of blessings for a young public accountant finishing up his paperwork in a bank board room. Glancing out the window, he noticed a light snow beginning to fall. He and his partner had agreed to stop work at noon. Both had all their Christmas shopping to do. With a joyful heart, he began to shop the seven floors of a nearby department store. The hours passed quickly. His shopping concluded, the young man took the down escalator, arms loaded with just the right presents. This was going to be a really good Christmas. Success had brought him much in the way of material blessings.

Bracing himself for the cold, he pushed the store door open. Gusting winds blew delicate snowflakes over the sidewalks. Drifts had begun to pile up in doorways as he headed for the parking ramp. Glancing at his watch, he noticed it was already five o'clock. It'd be tight, but if the traffic was light, he'd make it home for that Christmas Eve feast.

The beauty of Christmas window displays caught his eye. Magi­cal moments in winter wonderlands. Carols mingled with falling snow as sharp wind bit his ears. Hurrying down the street, his thoughts once again turned to his wife and young son, a warm home, and the delicious food that awaited him. "Blessed, you bet!" he thought shielding his face from the icy sting.

He began to sing "Silent Night." "Silent night, holy night. All is calm, all is bright." Entering the parking garage, his mood suddenly shifted. It would be a moment that he'd never forget — a moment that turned his life upside down.

Before him a man was supporting himself against a pillar — evidently one of the homeless, he assumed. Trying to avoid look­ing at the man's eyes, he turned his own down. That was when he noticed the man wearing worn out shoes but no socks. As he raised his eyes, he saw that the man wore "high water" pants. The ac­countant continued his upward glance, taking in the stranger's shirt. It had been white at one time; now it had yellowed. The old man pulled his coat together, trying to keep the biting chill out. It was apparent he hadn't shaved in days. His frail body showed his meals were few and far between. And those eyes ... they looked so empty. They were eyes without hope.

"Hey, mister, I'm hungry. Got a dollar?" he asked and reached out his hand. The question startled the young man. The warm fuzzies of Christmas disappeared in a poof. Before him was a man who did not fit in with the music ringing in the air or the pork pie and spiced egg nog awaiting him at home.

"What should I do?" he asked himself. He stared at the man and then walked away.

What should he have done? What would you have done? John tells us, "If you have two shirts, two coats, food or money to share, do it" (Luke 3:11 cf). That young man would remember the night he met Jesus, "Mister, got a dollar?" He had a dollar and more. He had a shirt and a coat on his back. He could have given them to the man. There were more at home. It's hard to be Thanksgiving or Christmas people — to consider all that one has as gifts from God — blessings from God to be shared with others.

God promised his servant Abraham: "Leave all — follow me — and I will make you a blessing to others." Like the young man who could list many excuses not to help the vagrant begging on the streets, Abraham could have listed his excuses not to do as God asked: "My wife won't like being uprooted. She's comfortable here. Nice tent, friends, family — a support system." But Abraham stepped out in obedience to God. The result? Blessings that have been given to all generations. His example of trust and faith in God, who cares and provides for faithful followers, still stands before us. Abraham didn't look at the current situation, but looked forward to God's next move. He was blessed to be a blessing to all future generations. And we, in this future, are now blessed to be blessings.

Jesus fervently desires us to be thankful people — people "in the world" but not "of the world." Not people so distracted "by the world" that we fail to see the needs of those around us. We are called to be people willing to give in love and give whatever it takes to fill a need — people, who seeing that need (a person with no socks, no coat, no hope) won't turn the other way simply be­cause it doesn't fit into their plans.

As Christians we are called to look beyond our own needs to the needs of others. The young accountant, so richly blessed, did not know at that time his "source of blessing." His life had been focused on living for number one, himself. But that Christmas Eve encounter changed his life. Six years later, he left his job to be­come a pastor, and he continues to reflect on that night he met Jesus in a Detroit parking garage, turned, and walked away — his coat still on his back.

Nora rushed into the gym. She was late. The women were al­ready dishing up the soup. Items of used clothing lay in neat stacks on metal tables. White elephant articles from garages, basements, and attics were piled up at one end of the court. Craft items took up the tables along the bleachers. Jen had set up her candles and Tyler his unique split-wood carvings. They were selling at cost. The smell of spiced apple cider permeated the building as the community gathered for the local Christmas bazaar.

"Sorry I'm late, girls," Nora apologized. "But you know Roy. He wanted me to fix his lunch before I fixed it for someone else." Knowing Roy was a fuss-budget about his schedule, the girls smiled, shaking their heads in agreement.

As the afternoon progressed, the pile of clothes and treasures decreased. Finishing her meal, an elderly woman rose to leave. She had found a nice, wool coat — and it was red, her favorite color. She had just enough money to buy it. After paying for her "need" not "want," she discarded her worn, matted coat. She smiled as she slipped her arms into the warm, winter coat. Then she headed for the door.

"Nora! Hey, Nora!" a voice cried out. "Isn't that your coat walking out the front door?" Alarmed, Nora turned from clearing tables to see the old woman opening the front door. And that was her red coat she was wearing!

"Hey, wait a minute," Nora called out dashing to the exit. The woman abruptly stopped. Embarrassed and confused, she turned to see a woman running toward her. Seeing her fearful expression, Nora halted. "Please, wait a minute," she said. Stopping by a table, Nora picked up a red and black crocheted hat.

"This hat will go perfectly with your new coat."

"But I ain't got no more money," she answered, with downcast eyes.

"Consider it an early Christmas gift," Nora beamed and handed her the hat. "In fact, I think this scarf goes with the hat, too. Take them both."

The elderly woman smiled. "The hat will do me well. My momma always told me that you lose a lot of heat up there if the head isn't covered." She chuckled as she put the hat on. "And thanks for the scarf. I do look spiffy, don't I?"

"You sure do. Have a wonderful Christmas," Nora said. The woman smiled, turned, and went out the door.

Returning to cleaning up, Nora's friend asked, "Did you get your coat back?"

"No, I didn't, but no need to worry," Nora answered. "I hap­pen to know that Roy put a big, fancy-wrapped box under the tree for me. I'm sure it's that black leather coat I've been hinting about."

"But that red coat looked so good on you. I could chase the woman down and tell her we made a mistake," her friend said.

"Don't get upset, Barb. You see, one of my Advent devotions asked how we might help our neighbor; how we, who are blessed, can be a blessing to others."

Barb smiled and said, "Well, God just answered your prayer."

In the remaining days of this Advent season, pray that God interrupts your plans and gives you the opportunity to be Christ's presence to others. I assure you, God will answer those payers. Remember the young accountant who wouldn't take off his coat and give to someone in need? Remember the praying kitchen worker who gave the coat from her back to one who really needed it? Re­member what God says to us, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do like­wise" (Luke 3:11). As people of hope and plenty, we must give hope as well as share from our abundance.

Advent: a time of blessing.

Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me ... Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are mem­bers of my family, you did it to me. — Matthew 25:34-40

When you encounter Christ, you will never be the same. Blessed we are called to bless others so go and do it — even if it means "giving the coat off your back." Amen.