Phone Rings….” (sobbing) I have been in a wreck!” I recently recieved this call from my 17 yr. old. My heart stops! Panic, fear, and parental desire to get to my kid…pushed me to do something I never thought I was capable of.  I became a criminal! I stole my neighbors car-briefly to get to my kid. You see before you judge me too severely, may I explain. My kid and I share a car – since I work from home, it has been easily managed. However, on this day, I became criminal. We were house sitting for our good friend and neighbor…and when I received the call of fear, desperation and need echoing through the phone line all “sanity” left me. I called everyone I could think of that would be readily available to assist – but to NO avail!  That is when I made the decision to go criminal. I am not proud of this,  I took advantage of our trust with our friend and neighbor and stole her car to get to my kid. I prayed that would understand the why, but in truth, I felt I had no other option.  All I wanted to do was to get to my kid and bring her home.  All I wanted and needed to do, was to wrap my arms around her, tell her I love her and to bring her home. It was with that overwhelming desire and love, that turned me criminal. Did I steal a car? Yes. Were my motives valid? Yes. Would my neighbors understand? I pray so.  Would I do it again? Yes.  Why? because I knew I needed to get to my child. My child was incapable of getting to me.  So I was willing to become a criminal and pay the cost of that,(losing a friend’s trust) in order, to be with my child and to bring her home.  Love makes you criminal!
As I reflect on this situation, in a sense,  I can’t help thinking that my Jesus did the same thing.  He heard the desperate call from his children.  He knew that they were incapable of getting to him…. so he was willing to be “criminal” in order to bring His children home. You see Jesus was sinless. He did nothing wrong but because we- His Children, are at fault.   He chose willing to pay for our mistakes. What did those mistakes cost Him? His life.  He was labeled and treated as a criminal because of His love for His children.  He gladly took on that label, because it meant that He would be able to bring his children home.  I understand that SO much more deeply than ever before.  

Thank you Jesus for your criminal love for your children!

Getting into the Christmas spirit has been a challenge this year and I don’t know why.  Perhaps it is the economy or just the world issues overall; I do not know.  But as I started putting up my Christmas decorations, in hopes to elavate my holiday ho-hums.  I came upon our family nativity – which is generally my favorite pieces to put up.  As I unwrapped each piece and placed them to their perfect position, my eyes and mind traveled to the 3 wise-man. 

As I stared at them I began to think about them and who they were and where they came from.   The traveled vast miles and faced many different people, situations, and dangers.  But they travelled to where Christ was.   It wasn’t an easy trip-no, quite the contrary.  But they did it and where rewarded for their efforts far beyond the miles they had to travel to get there.  As I continued to stare at these figures and my mind traveling along with them, I realized for me this year I may have to travel farther to get to where I want to be.  I may have to travel through situations and by people that want to interrupt or stall my journey.  But if I keep focused and searching, I will come face-to-face with whom I am searching and be rewarded far beyond the mental miles it took me to get there.  I will be spirit-to-spirit with my Jesus and offer only what I can – My Life – such as it is.  So yes, I will be traveling to Christmas – do you want to join me?