Compassion Corps

Merry Christmas

This week Heather and I took the girls for their first outing into New York City. It was a blast watching the girls take in all the sights and sounds that make New York, especially around Christmas, a really unique place to be. From the artistic store fronts lining 5th Avenue to the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center and all the Christmas shoppers in between…one could feel the spirit of the Christmas season. Everyone was looking for that “special” present to give to a friend or loved one.   And…upon reflection on the train ride home…isn’t that what Christmas is really all about?  The Gift!

You know the Bible talks about this GIFT in the New Testament. The book of Matthew (1:23) states, “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”–which means, “God with us.” And in John 3:16, the Bible says “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

The greatest gift we have this season is the gift God gave to humanity – the gift of His son Jesus Christ.  It is in this example of self-giving that we are inspired to give gifts to others and to make our life a gift in service to those who are impoverished, destitute, or otherwise in need because of injustice(s) in our world.  This is the message of Advent – to be prepared, to receive, and to give.

It is in this context of giving that I write to you this day.  Recently, one of our community members approached us and asked if Compassion Corps, through our local food pantry initiative, could supply an extra 50 boxes of food (creating a full holiday meal) for 50 at risk children and their families from Fair Haven Middle School.  Without hesitation, we said yes without knowing where the additional finances or food would even come from.  After I made the commitment I sat back and said, “now how in the world do we fulfill this order and make good on our promise?”  I knew, being at the end of the year, that we had a bit left over in the budget to help in an emergency – but 50 boxes – this was a bigger emergency than I was even prepared for.

Upon reflection I remembered a promise God gave me when we started our work in New Haven.  I felt Him speaking to my heat one day, when we were trying to make sense of our organizations finances, when I heard Him say, “Eric…when you step out and DO the WORK that is right in front of you THEN I will supply the necessary resources to meet each need.”  It was in this moment of quiet reflection that I was encouraged and what followed was amazing.

Within 24 hours of saying YES we received enough money, from three different states, to cover our immediate expenses and fulfill the Holiday meal request.  Second, we cut a deal with a local grocer to give Compassion Corps a deep discount in quality staple and fresh food products so each family would be provided with a GREAT holiday meal.  Finally, friends within our community volunteered to help put each box together and deliver it on the Tuesday before Christmas.

It is amazing to me what God will do and what WE can do when we decide to give (sacrificially) and work together to benefit those who are struggling to survive.  This is what Christmas is all about.  The Gift!

Thanks be to God…