I had a moment today, well more like an hour today. I was waiting for the car to be repaired and an older gentlemen came in and sat down near me. I was reading a book on my kindle and was not paying much attention to him. He started talking, thing is no one else was in there beside us, so I stopped reading and politely looked up at him. Immediately made eye contact, it was uncomfortable, it felt like he was peering right down to my soul. I looked away, he stopped talking, but knowing that was a bit rude of me, I slowly turned back and looked just beside him out the window and he started talking again.

There was an odd familiarity with this man, that I still cannot place. He is not someone I have met before, I don’t think anyways, but I have met thousands of people through the years of working in retail and now in church, so you never know. The only thing that really felt “uncomfortable’ was his gaze looking towards me, even now I feel a cold chill. But we talked for almost the full hour. Did not start with anything serious, you know the usual banter of weather, cars, news, Christmas; Christmas is where we stayed a long time. He shared about his family and their families. He shared about traditions, Santa and even the reindeer. No, this was not a man who looked like Santa, I confess though, it would have made his gaze easier to deal with! He then shared about his wealth, his losses, and the many deaths he has experienced through the years.

Then he went into a bit of what his beliefs were, who God was to him and how he has been through so much in his life, but never forgot that no matter how hard or tough it felt, he leaned into God. He shared that although he has suffered great losses, he was always blessed by those around him in his life. He had times where he did not do as well though in remembering these things and those times caused him great stress and even illness. He went on to share so much in this hour that I cannot even put it all into writing. But it was a lesson, many lessons in fact for me. I am still thinking through this time and all that was said. As quick as he came in, he was gone and while I waited all I could do is think about our talk.

Anyone that knows me very well, which is very few, knows that in many ways my life has been a rollercoaster for sometime now. Family and career changes over the past 10 years, health issues with family, covid, family loss and so much more. Yet the one thing I have always known and thought about is this: it does not matter what or who you lose in life, the world keeps moving forward. It does not stop for any of us, no matter how deep the pain is, it keeps on living and moving. I realized today with this “stranger” and our talk, that it is so important to embrace the “NOW.” We have all heard similar things, live now, live in the moment, be present, etc. It is all true! We must live in the here and now. We cannot live in the past, we cannot go back and change anything, we can change the now, which may change the future. But if we are not living today, appreciating what and who we have in our lives, then we are missing out.

The holidays are almost always difficult for many people. The loss of loved one’s changes how you celebrate or possibly not celebrate. I am feeling it this Christmas, the first Christmas with both of my parents gone now. I am feeling challenged as well due to friends and family battling cancer. But today I making a choice to celebrate their lives and this season. Before my mom had passed in September I was looking forward to this Christmas, first time in years. Why? I don’t really know, but I was. Then suddenly she was gone and my excitement for Christmas went out like a light bulb growing dark. Many will say, “of course,” it’s understandable.” Sure, it is, but today and every day forward, I want to celebrate – I have friends, family and overall a great life. I have achieved much, with much more to do. I have THE BEST wife ever and kiddo too!

No, I have not gone off the deep end. No, no Christmas ghosts have paid me any visits ( I don’t think). Today’s conversation just touched me in ways unexpected. Now, was this a random conversation or was this a God moment? I don’t know, He knows. But I am going to take a few deep breaths and do my best to enjoy the rest of this Season! Merry Christmas friends.

Thanks for stopping by the fire,

Pastor Dennis