On Wings Of Eagles

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Sunday, December 15, 2013

The Gift of Magic

Psalm 37:3-5 (NIV)
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him and he will do this:

Listen to the account as a magician shares how a Christmas show change his life and how it affected his Christmas’s to come.

One Christmas, years ago, I got a call to do a magic show on Christmas Eve at a family home in Halihi. A little girl there was ill with cancer.

December is my busiest month and I was pretty tired from working overtime, but the Uncle who called me was persistent and phoned several days running, so I gave them a very reasonable quote and tried to figure out how to do a portable version of my stage show.

When I got there, no one was ready ("Filipino time" they told me), there were 9 children and adults coming. The more I thought about it, the more I tried to figure a way to do as much of my show in this small downstairs room as I could. Why not, it was Christmas Eve.

My screens were brought in and set up. It was very tight.

The people came in with a beautiful little 9 year old girl, not even in a real wheelchair, just a regular wooden chair with caster wheels attached. Bald from Chemotherapy and with an oxygen tube to help her breath.

Her eyes were very pretty, wide and attentive. She seemed as excited as the other children though less active. I understood this would be perhaps her last Christmas on earth with her family.

I did my regular show with energy and a smile on my face though inside my heart was sinking. I was just wishing there was something more I could do. I felt like I was on autopilot, part of me standing back and watching. I did all the jokes and bits of business that make people laugh that I'd learned over my lifetime.

These people needed joy. They responded heartily and with tremendous warmth. For a moment everyday reality was less important, (that is the gift of the entertainer I guess.) For once, I was not just "Happy to get everything to work," but very humbled.

Afterwards as they went to food and conversation, I packed everything away to get back and close down the house for my folks who had their own physical issues to deal with. Here it was Christmas Eve and I was surrounded by mortality, yet I think God let me share what I could do and showed me sometimes it really makes a difference.

I could have used the money I suppose, but they certainly needed it more. The last gift was pressing the $100 in loose bills back into the smiling Uncles' hand and saying "That's ok, I have nieces...Merry Christmas." His face lit up and he said "Oh! An honest man!" And went to tell his incredulous relatives. Maybe to him it seemed like a minor miracle. I had to turn away and leave quickly so he wouldn't see the tears in my eyes.

Seeing how you can do something that counts, isn't that the best gift someone can get? For me, it was the best Christmas gift I can remember.

What a great challenge for each of us. Every year and especially at Christmas offer to do something for a family or Charity that can use what you do. Each of us is good at something; why not take today to share it with someone who really needs it. Be a blessing today.


Dear Lord, we thank You for the gifts and talents that You have given to us. This Christmas season open our eyes so that we may see those that can benefit from us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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