My best Christmas moment of the season
just past occurred when I watched an online video of an elaborate
surprise one Canadian airline planned for the passengers on a
particular flight. WestJet Airlines set up a large video booth at the
flight gate, and while travelers waited to board the plane, they were
invited to scan their boarding passes at the machine. Suddenly Santa
would appear on the monitor, address the person by name, and ask what
they wanted for Christmas.
While the travelers chatted to Santa, a
whole army of people was standing by behind the scenes to make their
dreams come true. Santa's helpers were listening in and taking notes
on each conversation. Then, while the flight was in the air, these
troops went to work, madly shopping, wrapping and delivering gifts to
the destination airport. The flight landed and the passengers
gathered at the baggage claim area. But when the bell sounded, the
lights flashed and the conveyor belt began to move, rather than the
suitcases they were expecting to come out of the carousel came gift
after perfectly wrapped gift, each bearing the name of a person
aboard the flight.
Looks of bewildered surprise turned
into expressions of incredible delight as the people began reaching
for the gifts bearing their names and tearing them open on the spot.
“Santa” and his “elves” were present, enjoying the moment
every bit as much as the passengers themselves. Some of the travelers
cried, they were so touched, while others just stood open-mouthed in
disbelief.
Sadly, someone put a damper on the good
feelings in a comment posted under the video, saying the money spent
on the project should have been given to the poor and needy – that
that is what Jesus would have done. The statement echoes one found in
the Bible after a woman opened a jar of expensive perfume and poured
the contents on Jesus' head. The disciples were incensed at the
seeming waste of money. Yet Jesus described her actions as beautiful
(Matthew 26:10).
Surely the poor shouldn't be forgotten.
It should be noted that when WestJet Airlines posted the video of the
event online, they then donated free flights to needy people based on
the number of views the video received. But God is present in every
expression of love, and we can worship Him by loving on His people,
whether they are in need or not.
Afterall, isn't that what God does? He
promises that He will supply our needs. Yet He goes beyond that,
blessing us simply for the joy He receives in doing so. He reminds us
in His Word, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give
good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven
give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11 NIV)
The key word in that sentence is found
near its end. God simply wants us to ask. Surely there were
those on the flight who didn't bother to spend time in front of the
video booth, and thus missed the opportunity to receive a
specifically-selected present when the gifts started rolling out at
the end.
I noted while watching the video that
every person got exactly what they asked for. The boy that asked for
the android tablet got an android tablet. The man who asked for
nothing but socks and underwear...got nothing but socks and
underwear. Yet the couple that honestly stated they wanted a big-screen TV
for Christmas – never dreaming it would come to them in such a way
– got exactly that, to the cheers of everybody in the area!
Far from suggesting that God endorses
greed on our parts, it's the principle in the story above that He
wants us to grasp. He wants us to dream big dreams and then ask Him
to bring them to pass. As we grow in our relationship with Him, our
wish lists change from simply material desires to spiritual ones.
The longing of our hearts becomes for things that money can't buy and
for God to move in situations in ways that we simply can't. It is
these requests that He wants us to put before Him, believing that He
is able to do the impossible. Yet we are sometimes hesitant to do so,
mistakenly believing that His generosity is limited by our
unworthiness rather than loosed by His inherent goodness. And so we
ask for socks and underwear spiritually speaking, when God is longing
and able to move in big-screen TV ways.
Surely there is a reason during His
time on the earth that He asked people so often, “What is it that
you would like me to do for you?” Perhaps God's hands of blessing
are tied to the size of faith of the believer, as expressed in the
framing of the request. The Word says, “As you have believed, so
shall it be to you.” What we ask for is a reflection of what we
believe about God and who we are in Him. The truth is that we get
little because we ask for little. God is daring us to expand our
faith, to dream and ask as sons and daughters of an all-powerful King
and beloved children of a benevolent Father, that He might pop our
eyes and wow our hearts with what He is able and longing to do for
us...not just for our delight, but also for His.
“Ask, and it will be
given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be
opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds;
and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
(Matthew 7:7-8 NIV)
What a great illustration for a simple spiritual concept--we do not receive because we do not ask. Our Father does long to bless us from His storehouse of spiritual gifts, doesn't he? Thanks for the great reminder. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteEver since I came across it, I've been reminding myself as well - skip the socks and underwear and go for the big-screen TV! I learned alot from it!
DeleteWhat an amazing story! It really sounds too good to be true. It's wonderful that the airline also offered free flights for those in need.
ReplyDeleteJulie
I know! I absolutely loved it! Thanks for reading!
DeleteI saw that video too, and loved it. You are right, ANY act of generosity could be directed at the poor - they will always be with us - but giving in general, to ANYONE, is the work of God.
ReplyDelete