"Working" on Christmas Eve

picture from churchart.com 

Saturday afternoon my boyfriend and I finally decided what to get his nieces, sister, and brother-in-law for Christmas. I headed to the store to find the items (I’m not sure if his sister reads my blog so I won’t tell you what we got the family-but it is a cool family gift that they all will enjoy). Any way- I made it to the store, found the gifts and a few other items I didn't even realize I needed, and headed to the check out. As the cashier was ringing up my purchases, we made casual conversation. I asked him if because he was working the Saturday before Christmas he had Christmas Eve off. “Thank God” he said in a disdainful tone, “I am off Christmas Eve, but my mom is making me go to church with her.” then quickly he said “What about you? Do you have to work Christmas Eve?” I chuckled and excitedly said “I do have to work Christmas Eve!” I must have been one of the few people who didn't answer with snark in their voice that they had to work on Christmas Eve. Because of my chuckle perhaps he asked “You aren't upset that you have to work on Christmas Eve?” “No” I replied. “I’m a minister; I guess you could say it comes with the job.” He finished ringing up my stuff with a somber look on his face, perhaps fearful that he had offended me by saying his mother was making him go to church on Christmas Eve.  I paid for my items, picked up my bags, headed out the door, and said, unfortunately this time with a little snark in my voice, “Have a Merry Christmas, whatever you end up doing, even if it is going to church with your mom.”

This entire conversation undoubtedly took not more than five minutes and it is very similar to a conversation I had with a woman in line at the grocery store two Good Friday’s ago about what my Easter holiday plans were. I seem to always find myself in these conversations and I wish I could say I make them up so I have something to write about but, they are not made up, I really do have these conversations with people. In retrospect I should be better prepared but they always catch me off guard and in a moment when I could be the image of Christ in Christmas I do what I fear most, NOTHING. I do nothing except make a comment that may or may not make them feel bad that they didn't know they were talking to a minister, not very Christ like...

I didn't intend to make him feel bad with my comment as I left the store and I honestly don’t know if it even phased him but clearly I am still thinking about it two days later.  What sticks with me from this conversation however, is not the cashier’s facial expression after discovering I am a minister but the assumption that, before knowing my vocation, perhaps I would be as insincere about the possibility of going to church on Christmas Eve. I also have a strange respect for this young man that he didn't try to back pedal and change his story upon discovering that I am a minister. I am not sure what to do with that feeling.

As I have been thinking about this very brief exchange, I have also been thinking about others that I know and those I don’t who will be working tonight.  Not, because like me they are ministers, but because they work in a hospital, restaurant, department store, gas station, hotel, or any other place that might be open in the midst of the holiday at hand. I am also keenly aware that in the weeks of Advent I have probably had more missed opportunities to bring the story of the Christ child to others and I didn't  I am also aware, as Christmas arrives in a matter of hours, that the opportunities to be the face of Christ don’t end when all the presents are unwrapped and the food is put away. The opportunity to share the Christmas story isn't just up to the ministers “working” tonight but any who believe in the child who came many years ago this night.

If you are working tonight (wherever you might be working) or if you’re not working tonight remember that Christ will come wherever you are. Christ will come into the sanctuary at 5:30 when the candles are lit. Christ will come into the Emergency Room because someone’s uncle had too much eggnog and too many sugar cookies. Christ will come when the couple who received and unexpected gift card show up at a restaurant to share a meal together. Christ will come while you’re driving down the interstate trying to make it to your family by Christmas morning. Christ will come while you’re standing in line waiting to purchase those last minute gifts. Christ will come into your heart, wherever you are, whatever you’re doing if you open your eyes and see him.

                                    Merry Christmas- however you celebrate,

                                                                        Andrea