An Inkling
Friday night Sarah and I had the privilege of celebrating our anniversary with a night at the Jefferson Hotel, thanks to the kindness of one of the small groups here who knew that this was our 35th Anniversary. Actually, each day of a marriage is a gift, but the milestones provide an occasion for celebration.
The setting for this celebration was especially fun for us, as we had never stayed in a five star hotel. If you’ve been to the Jefferson, then you know its marble-columned lobby and sweeping staircase. We roamed around, taking in all of the art and lavish Christmas decorations. We worked out in the fancy exercise room. Friday night’s crab cake dinner was sumptuous, as was the room service breakfast the next morning. Our suite had three rooms, three TVs, a luxurious bed, a huge shower, and a Jacuzzi. If I weren’t already corrupt, that would have done it!
We got home mid-day Saturday, still aglow from our extravagant celebration. A few hours later we were up at the church helping to welcome the homeless women who are staying with us this week through the Caritas Ministry. Thirty-five cots fill our Patterson Hall. The women share two bathrooms, and ride in our carpool over to the Y for showers. Our team feeds them well, and seeks to bless them with everything from haircuts to medical care to prayer. We do all we can to make the week a good one for our guests. Even so, thirty-five cots in a big room is not exactly the Jefferson.
It was the contrast between the two in the same day that made me think of Paul’s word to the Philippians: I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty (Phil. 4:11b-12a). In a culture that presses us to be anything but content (lest this year’s “shopping season” not top last year’s!), it is no small thing to be content.
Simplicity is a discipline that I’ve valued for some years, so I’ve found it a challenge to enjoy the abundance that comes with Jefferson-like gifts without feeling awkward. For others the growing edge faces the other way. It’s that growing edge of contentment with a little or a lot which Paul described, one of the Lord’s many ongoing projects in our lives. The Savior who could both feast and fast to God’s glory wants to free us to do the same. May his kind of contentment mark your Advent and Christmas seasons.
Blessings,
Keith
