From "Deck the Halls" to "Rescue Me" | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: From "Deck the Halls" to "Rescue Me" | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jeff Goins
10/08/08
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When I was growing up, we used to sing "Deck the Halls" as we put tinsel on the Christmas tree, while hanging garland around the house. We baked sugar cookies and those peanut butter things with Hershey's kisses on top. Christmas carols used to represent "sweet" times, but I don't so much feel that way any more.

A couple Christmases ago, I meet a group of homeless people living under a bridge. They didn't sing "Deck Halls" or "Jingle Bells." They lacked warm clothing, footwear, and food in their bellies. I think that they were singing something like Aretha Franklin's "Rescue Me," as their stomachs groaned and the darkness of their circumstances weighed down on their spirits.

If I could sing "making spirits bright" in good conscience, I knew that my carols were going to have drop the tinsel and hit the streets.

So my friend and I started collecting donations from friends, work colleagues, and church members. We got boots, scarves, gloves, sweaters, coats, pants, food, bottled water, blankets and candy canes... yes, candy canes.

And we dropped off those supplies and shared the Gospel with this community that lived beneath a bridge in a way we had never before done. We said, "You know, Jesus was born in a horse trough, literally in a pile of crap, and we think you know what that feels like. We just want you to remember that he understands you and hasn't forgotten you. Merry Christmas."

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