The Parting: A Thrill of Hope

Bob already was in the Christmas spirit and Pastor Bill’s message only reinforced the feeling. Samantha felt, as Bob’s song said, “a thrill of hope.” Despite the fact that Charlotte had invited Samantha to church several times, she always declined. However, in spending time with Bob, she realized there was something special about his life. Since she had never stepped foot in a church before, the whole experience was new.

Samantha grew up the middle of three girls in family that had an abusive, alcoholic father. Her young life was spent always trying to make sure she had everything perfect for she never knew in what condition her father would be whenever he came home. He was an angry, violent drunk. The slightest thing could set him off. Her mother had tried for years to appease him and protect her girls but eventually the bottle became her escape also. Consequently, three young girls had to fend for themselves.

When she reached her teens, Samantha found that by giving a little of herself to boys, she could get an escape from home life and she felt like people liked her. Though the acceptance she sought was always followed by a twinge of guilt, it was easier than the terror at home. When she moved out and went to college, she continued what she knew. It was just who she was, what she did. But she started to use men the same way she felt used by her parents. Subconsciously, it was a form of revenge for what she endured at the hands of her father. It was also a bit of “I need to hurt them before they hurt me.”

After she met Charlotte, they two spent time one day talking about past holidays. Charlotte had many fond memories despite coming from a relatively poor family. Finally, Samantha shared that things were difficult when she was growing up but Christmas was different. Her father always made it a point not to drink during the month of December. New Years Eve was an exception to that December rule. Still, there was something magical about Christmas and she simply shared with Charlotte that it seemed a piece of heaven came down to earth during the Christmas season. Charlotte told her how right she was and the God sent His Son to the earth so that we could all be with Him in heaven. The words didn’t really mean much to Samantha at the time but they came back as she listened to Pastor Bill’s words.

She heard a story of a world subjected to endless cycles of meaninglessness. Everything in the world had cycles. 60 seconds in a minute. 60 minutes in an hour. 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Month after month, year after year. If you believe the scientists, this maddening circle of life has been going on for billions of years. Yet it seems God does nothing. He doesn’t care. As a few of our Founding Fathers believed, God made everything then went off to do His own thing and left us to fend for ourselves. But God was not done with us. He let the Hebrews stay in the bonds of slavery so He could make a nation for Himself. When time was right He interjected Himself into their lives and showed His awesome power through many miracles.

His people could not stay faithful to Him. It was impossible for them to keep the laws He gave and they went back to their old ways. But He remained faithful to them. Therefore, He demonstrated His better idea. Since they were powerless to be perfect like Him, He became like them. God intersected humanity but He was completely human and still completely God. We knew there was something different about Him. It was like a 3D being coming to live in a 2D world.

No longer did we have to be stuck in the monotony of our lives. No longer were we chained to maddening cycles of life. God came. God is with us. Everything is different now. Great joy is now for us because God is with us. Can we truly imagine what that actually means?

Samantha knew it meant something to her. Tears of joy streamed down her face as she listened to Pastor Bill. Bob noticed Samantha’s tears and put took her hand in his. Samantha believed. God has not forsaken His creation. God loved us. Samantha had heard this before but it was finally personal. God loved Samantha. She thought to herself, “Heaven did come to earth at Christmas. Only it wasn’t a piece of heaven. It was God Himself come down to be with us. God loves me. He loves me enough to stoop to my level since I could never reach His. Gratitude flooded Samantha’s heart and continued spilling down her cheeks. She was ready for the cycles to be broken.

The emptiness she felt for so long began melting away as she believed the words she heard. She gave her heart to God. She felt whole. She felt at peace.

A thrill of hope. The weary world rejoices for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees. Oh hear the angel voices, oh night divine oh night when Christ was born.