The barista leaned out from the drive-through window to tell the awaiting patrons that the car ahead of them that had just left had graciously paid for their order. Three grande coffees suddenly on the house thanks to the mysterious Mazda now pulling away into the night. To which the driver replied, "We will pay for the car behind us then!"
"Their total comes to $21.97" the barista replied.
There was a tense moment of silence as the pair exchanged suddenly unsure looks. Their order as they had placed it was to come to $5 and some change.
"I'll pay" said the passenger as she passed her debit card from her hand to the driver.
"That was a lot" said the driver.
"Yeah" she said meekly. She craned her neck around to look at the sedan full of college-aged students behind them in the line. "But it's Christmas. Tis the season to 'pay it forward' right?"
The light turned red as they pulled into the left hand turn lane heading home. There leaning on the traffic sign post was a woman with a tattered blue hoodie pulled up over her head. Through the fog, the traffic lights cast bright a red and green haze over the intersection; the glow highlighting her shivering body clutching a cardboard sign. With the light timed so as not to change any time soon, everyone in the car pried the lids off of their coffees. Blowing the steam from the tops of their insulated cups, they all found something else to stare at.
The light turned green and off they went. Leaving the woman and her tattered sign now glowing in their red tail lights mixing in with the green hazy night.
_ _
When we use the Christian sacred act of good will towards others by way of purchasing the Starbucks order of the car behind us, we are "paying it forward". But then to intentionally avoid eye contact with the woman standing in the median clutching a cardboard sign, we essentially neuter the previous message of hope within the body of the Gospel we had originally intended to participate in.
To offer a gift of payment for goods that we could already afford is a kind gesture and it should not be examined as anything other than a hospitable act of affection. It is a step in the right direction. Many acts of random kindness have the ability to change a culture in a positive way. To be the recipient of one of these acts changes the daily pattern of individualism one experiences in this world of consumerism and personal accomplishment. It is nice to know that even though someone did not have to, they were selfless enough to look out for another.
But a step in the right direction begs for the other foot to follow it. Like a pitcher who has just released a ninety mile-an-hour fastball towards the plate. His foot planted firmly in the mound and his toes facing the catcher. His arm creates a momentum so aggressive that his foot that was once wedged against the rubber must now be lifted off and away as his hips carry his leg over and into the grass before him. A movement as big as grace cannot stand alone. The body of Christ responds to the motion of its limbs. And when the feet leap to life, the body responds and follows in sequence.
A pastor once gave a sermon where he encouraged his listeners to, "run as fast as you possibly can towards the Cross. And when you cannot run any farther, your lungs cannot hold another breath, your legs cannot step forward once more, look to your left and look to your right. Whoever is standing next to you in that moment, marry that person." In the Christian journey, it is necessary that this all out sprint be littered with acts of kindness and grace to others one experiences along the way. For the Cross is the goal and not the tasks that direct the path to it.
The journey will be difficult, and at times you may be tested as to which way to head. At times your legs may stumble as one foot directs itself to the fork to the left and the other to the right. But the body must go one way and one way only. It does no good to walk one step in one direction only to undo your deed by walking two steps back to the divide. As God as your guide, the way will be lit with true glowing orientation. Once you have a bearing again, let your first leg follow the other into the light.
It says in Luke 2 that there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest...
and on earth peace...
...good will toward men."
Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!" Peace on earth and mercy mild. God and sinners reconcile.
May we the feet find ourselves charging forward in a coordinated and balanced effort into the message of hope this Christmas. The goal is the Cross. The distance is full of opportunities to tend to the flocks in need of shepherding. At times the route will seem dark and foggy but in fixing your gaze upon Christ, may you never find yourself tripping upon the mixed endeavors of dichotomous Christian charity and intentional averting of attention from those who beg for it. May you instead see God in the eyes of otherwise forgotten children straddling our freeway off-ramps clutching the requests of healing of a broken of spirit. In those moments of recognition, may you be the bringer of good news to those who would flock to hear it if only it were extended and spoken.
This Advent season, may joy be brought to sinners who sip coffee from decorative red cups as well as those who are fixing for more than a jolt of caffeine. May our clemency come from God to be poured out in more ways than the gift of discounted lattes served to those who can afford to be patrons. May our patronage be to the Gospel as we pay out the grace of God forward to those truly in need wherever we may encounter them. And may you continue to run relentlessly into foggy nights heading steadily towards the beautiful Cross.
