"Falling Through the Porch"

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (NKJ John 1:14)

Odd Christmas Memory

    Just like you I have many Christmas memories patched together over the years. Every time the Christmas season finally arrests my thoughts, around the holidays I experience a number of unbidden recollections surfacing randomly.

    Oddly one memory persists while many others, which ought to be more easily remembered, have faded. It is the time my grandfather made a trek in cold snowy weather to a friends farm house in the country. These fine, hard working Christian people were struggling on this particular Christmas; and my grandfather and dad felt it the right thing to take them a gift of food. As my grandfather climbed their stairs and made in to the porch, his one foot broke through the wooden floor and went through. He was able to get it out and with only an injury that eventually healed.

    I cannot tell you why this memory sticks in my mind. It seems that it carries a significant for me that I have not previously, consciously appreciated. However, this year it clicked for me. I saw this simple event as a snap shot of Christmas.

God Broke Through

    At the first Christmas, God broke through to us. The whole world was in need of someone to come and give a package of sustenance. Our God and Savior, saw our need and came to us with the food of salvation. The great God of Heaven enwrapped Himself in humanity and journeyed to our "farm". He walked our stairs and stood on our porch. In coming, He broke through the rotting timbers of our fallen and decaying world, suffering injury. In order to deliver this salvation His Incarnation cost him more than an injured leg. It cost him his life on the Cross.

Christmas Mourning
On Christmas day I weep
Good Friday to rejoice.
I watch the Child asleep.
Does he half-dream the choice
The Man must make and keep?

At Christmastime I sigh
For my good Friday hope
Outflung the Child's arms lie
To span in their brief scope
The death the Man must die.

Come Christmastide I groan
To hear Good Friday's pealing.
The Man, racked to the bone,
Has made His hurt my healing,
Has made my ache His own.

Slay me, pierced to the core
With Christmas penitence
So I who, new-born, soar
To that Child's innocence,
May wound the Man no more.
		--Vassar Miller (1924- )

 A Break Through for Us 

    God's breaking through the porch brought great suffering for Him. But, to us it was a great salvation. This demonstration of His love and mercy gave us hope. It filled us with meaning. His suffering brought us a new song. 

Christmas Now
Child, when Herod wakes,
and hate or exploitation
swing their dripping swords,
from your cross and cradle
sing a new song.

Child, when Caesar's laws
choke love or strangle freedom
calling darkness light,
from your cross and cradle
sing a new song.

Child, when Caiaphas
sends truth to crucifixion
to protect his prayers,
from your cross and cradle
sing a new song.

Child, your helpless love
brings death and resurrection;
joyfully we cometo your cross and cradle
with a new song -
Alleluia! Alleluia!
		--Brian Wren (1936- )	

 Breaking Through Someone's Porch

    There are so many all around us who are in desperate need of the food of Heaven. We trust that the Story of Jesus will inspire you to visit someone's "porch" and risk "falling through" to deliver them the gift of the Gospel of Jesus. Have a truly Merry Christmas!

From your friend at In Christ Alone! Ministries, Bernie Gillespie, December 25, 2000