Approaching Christmas with Joy - Day 3Steve Lawton - 15 Dec 2010
Joy to the world
I met her on a Tuesday
I remember coz it was my day to do shopping and I didn’t really get out that often, I mostly stopped in so this time I was out, aware and listing.
It was her smile that got me
I gotta admit it kinda caught me awkwardly.
She seemed way happier than she should be
Happier than me
But how the flip could she be coz she had nothing like the stuff I had
And she’d been nowhere near the places I’ve been
She knew nothing on technology and progressive music scenes (well neither did I really, butt...)
She seemed to have something more
Something deep
Something that drew me
Her name was Joy
“Big Issue boss?”
Her sales technique hit the spot,
It weren’t to off the cuff or too up front it was just, enuff
I took a seat next to her’s
When I say seat, I took up position on the floor, next to the door, opposite the fruit and veg store
So I could see wot she saw
I was a little startled!
“9 mont gone, Yeah he come next soon”
The broken English tongue could throw most anyone, specially me
“because now it’s... harder today for me”
Her imitation gold tooth caught the glare of the winter sun and in a moment the cold bitter air that had relentlessly surrounded was gone, her smiled warmed the air.
As I sat with Joy that day there
Time moves on
Next time I saw her she had a son
And a strong one
But right now
He wasn’t doing so well
And her dad was on the brink as well
We shared prayers on that street there in that cold winter air, that her smile warmed
Never once did her eyes look scared
Even with the weight of her world seemingly on her shoulders she sat firm
On her fold up camping chair
Problems and all, she didn’t seem to hold them on her own
She seemed to have something else, something.....other
Weeks went by
Dad died
Tears shed and baby cried
In and out of hospital due to malnutrition
But
He kept on living
“Big issue boss?”
“Hot chocolate?” that gold tooth smile would get her far these days
But more than that
Here ability to pray took her all ways
You see she had something....other
Something she couldn’t even see
Something the world didn’t care to see
And as they walked by
Cold,
Harsh,
Greedily.
Occasionally, slowing, to look at her feet
And glance and the magazines, held up by frozen knees
What they failed to do was stop,
Listen,
see.....
Joy was her name
And her gift was free
At times it didn’t come easily
And oddly her smile.....
Well.....it cracked a few times
She drew a few hard lines
Yet totally, completely she was still
Joy
Joy to see what is given freely
Joy to appreciate her part in the story
Joy to understand
She wasn’t just living for now
Joy to give
Joy to receive
Joy for what is to come, Joy, not always happy
But Joy most defiantly free
Joy to freely see what was given freely
And Joy - to Give joy
Joy to the world.
As we wait for Christmas, the celebration, the feast and the wonder of an incarnate God 24-7 Prayer will be posting a series of reflections to help us to wait well. We have asked friends from across the movement and around the world to creatively express themselves and focus us on the coming of Christ. During the 3rd week of advent we're thinking about Joy. Follow along with the 24-7 Prayer 'Approaching Advent' Calendar.