“Footprints in the Snow”

Meditation for the Third Sunday in Advent 2012

Philippians 4:4-7

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     “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7)

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     Vicki Soto wasn’t thinking about her own safety on Friday. She was trying to shield her students from a man who walked into Sandy Hook Elementary School in suburban Newtown, Connecticut, and started shooting.

     Vicki was trying to usher her first graders into a closet when she came face to face with the 20-year-old gunman. She was killed when she put herself between the gunman and the children.

    “Miss Soto,” as her students called her, was only 27. She had been teaching 5 years.  The kids, whose lives she saved, say she was “really nice” and “funny.” She liked to chew gum, something that wasn’t usually allowed in school.  And when her students teased her about it, she playfully teased them back.

     We heard about the tragedy on Friday as Jim and I drove to Mankato to pick up our son from college and bring him home for his winter break. We felt shock and disbelief as we heard how 28 people had been shot and killed at the elementary school in Connecticut; 20 of them were children. And all my little disappointments and frustrations of the last week, beginning with the cancellation of worship because of a snowstorm, seemed very trite, indeed.

      As a former teacher of young children, and as a parent, I feel such sorrow for the families and community that is struggling with this terrible loss and will be for a long, long while.

     And here it is – almost Christmas.

     How will these families find the strength to go on?  How will they deal with their grief and anger? How will the young survivors heal?

     Will they ever feel safe in their school again?  

     ***

   Paul, in our Epistle reading, offers help for those who struggle with grief, loss, and fear. Paul writes to the Philippians from his prison cell in Rome.  He knows they are discouraged, sad, and afraid as they, too, have been victims of persecution. They sent him gifts to encourage him when they heard he was in jail.  One gift was a man from their church who would help care for Paul in prison.  But this man became gravely ill, so Paul sent him home to recover. Now Paul doesn’t want the Philippians to worry about him in prison or find fault with the man they had sent to care for him.  

     In Paul’s time, a prison sentence was often a death sentence.  The incarcerated were treated cruelly, and not adequately fed or provided with clean water.  They rarely received medical help.  Jails were dirty, horrible places. And Paul, imprisoned for witnessing to the resurrection of Jesus Christ and salvation in His name, tells the Philippians, “Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again, I will say, rejoice!”

     How can Paul tell those who love him to rejoice when they know he is suffering and probably will not live much longer without someone to care for him? 

    Well, Paul doesn’t just say, “Rejoice!”  He says, “Rejoice in the Lord always!” Rejoice in your salvation—which has already happened and can never be taken from you. And rejoice in what is to come—when the Lord returns to gather His Church. Paul reminds them in his letter of his own love for them and their call to love one another.  He is concerned for their unity and their witness to Christ.  So he says, “Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.” 

     Of course, Paul knows they will worry.  So he encourages them to pray, instead of worrying. And give thanks to God as you make your requests known to Him.  For the Lord is faithful and will respond in our need.

    And what is the promise for those who pray, rejoice in the Lord, and make known their gentleness to everyone?

    Peace.  A peace that goes beyond human understanding.

   And this peace is not just a good feeling. This peace is power! It will “guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”  It will protect us and keep us—until the Lord comes again.

      On Friday morning, before I had heard about the tragedy at the Connecticut school, I called my father in Florida.  He was lonely because my mother is in Maryland visiting my sister.

      His mood lifted, however, when he asked about our snowy weather. This triggered a shared memory. Dad reminded me about the year we visited my grandparents in Florida for Christmas.  I was only 3 or 4. We didn’t know it, but 18 inches of snow had fallen on our home in rural Maryland while we made the 2-day drive back.  As the station wagon neared our home, we discovered the long gravel driveway had completely disappeared under the snow! And the wind had lifted and piled the snow much taller than 18 inches in places so our front yard looked like waves in the ocean.

    I couldn’t believe the sea of white!  No footprints in the snow! 

    Anxious to make my own, I jumped out of the car and tried to follow my family who were unloading the car.  But I only sunk down deep.  The snow was up to my waist and I couldn’t move. I cried out!

    And then, a feeling of freedom and peace swept over me, as my dad lifted me into his arms.  He carried me all the way to the front door.  As he walked, I looked back and marveled at how big his footprints were! How easy it was for him to walk through the deep snow, when I could not, alone, walk at all. 

      This image came to mind later as I considered the tragedy at the school and Paul urging us to “Rejoice in the Lord.” How will all those who mourn the loss of loved ones –now, when it is nearly Christmas—find hope, healing, and strength to go on?

     The same way we find peace, a peace that goes beyond human understanding, when we are sad, discouraged or afraid.  When we feel we don’t have the strength to walk any farther, we cry out to the Lord.

     And Christ lifts us up and carries us easily to safety, like a father carrying his child through the deep snow. And looking back, we will see God’s great big footprints on our lives. We will remember how the Lord embraced us in His arms and showed His love through the gentleness of people around us. 

      And we won’t see our footprints at all.  

     Will you pray with me?

     Heavenly Father, thank you for carrying us and caring for us not only when we are sad, afraid, discouraged or weary, but always.  We rejoice in our Lord, Your Son, who is our salvation.  Thank you for your loving arms that hold us tightly and never let us fall from your grasp.  Thank you for the peace of Christ, our Redeemer, that heals us in our brokenness.  And thank you for your Spirit that leads us on.  Lord, we pray for the families and community that suffered the loss of 28 people—20 of them children.  Lord, heal them and help them forgive.  Draw them closer to You. Protect the students and staff as they return to school next week.  Remind them that You are with them always and will help them through any frightening or painful thing they might experience.  And we pray you would prevent the senseless violence that visited this Connecticut community from happening ever again.  In Christ we pray.  Amen.