An Evangel Home Christmas Play

I recently became a bit player in an impromptu and unexpected Christmas play. Sometimes there are moments in life so unique and full of love that you can feel God breaking into the scene. Such a moment recently involved a small cast of ragtag characters, an unexpected time, and a humble setting.

CAST:
Char, a 2002 graduate of our GARDEN program, doing very well.

Maxine, a long-time Evangel Home staff member, dealing with Alzheimer’s.

Gerre, at the office on a Saturday afternoon trying to get caught up.

SCENE: Old car parked at the curb in front of Evangel Home. Char is the driver and Maxine the passenger.

ACT 1: Char is taking Maxine from her care facility for a drive and stops here to see if something buried deep within Maxine’s memory might be released for a moment. Char parks and comes to the door. Interestingly enough she did this same thing a year ago, on a Saturday when I was trying to get caught up. That was the day she first learned about Maxine. She has stayed by her side ever since.

ACT 2: Char rings the bell at Evangel Home’s pink door and tells the manager she has a former staff member in the car and wonders if she could bring her inside. I hear this and decide it might be better if I go outside and visit with Maxine. We chat for a bit although Maxine does not recognize Evangel Home or me. I sit down on the curb next to her open door and Char stands next to me. A neighbor is outside, and there is scarcely any sound except his rake scraping fallen dry leaves. Still, I press on with Maxine until we find a topic she can connect with.

ACT 3 Dialogue: Gerre asks, “Maxine, don’t you have a birthday coming up? Isn’t it sometime in November? Do you still like Country Gospel music?” Maxine answers, “Yes, that would be nice.”

SETTING 2: I get up from the curb to go to my car in the back alley. I retrieve a CD by Bethany 4 and return to Maxine in the curbside car.

ACT 4: Dialogue: “Here you go, Maxine. Happy Birthday.” (Don Nachtigal, may I please have another CD?)

SOUNDTRACK: “One Day at a Time”

Epilogue: So there we were on a beautiful fall Saturday afternoon. Char, Maxine and I sitting in the car and on the curb listening to “One Day at a Time.” We sang along—Char and I doing most of the singing; Maxine nodding and joining in occasionally.

Last year Char made a commitment to Maxine to share time and life with her at least once a week. “I want to let the Lord work through me to bless Maxine. I want to help carry her the rest of her life.”

Thanksgiving is not just a once a year day of gratitude -- Christmas was not just a one-time event. I am thankful to be among people who show the love of Christ in every action and who know that He shows up in the most unusual and unexpected ways.

All of us at Evangel Home, including Char and Maxine, pray that this Holy season is one in which you experience God breaking into your life in unexpected ways.

Serving Him Together,

Gerre Brenneman