HERE IN THE REAL WORLD

It Happened One Christmas

The biggest snow I ever know’d
came one Christmas a few years ago,
It started early in the mornin’ on Christmas eve,
and by dawn it had rapped up the ground and the trees.

We got out early that day to bring in the cows,
Figurin’ on getting them fed then we’d be oft to the house.
We got ‘em all in and gave ‘em some food,
That’s when something changed our mood.

I counted the cows (Luke 2:1-2) as we stood in the barn,
one was missin’ there was cause for alarm.
It was ol’ Bessie my oldest old girl,
I was worried she had wondered off in this snow covered world.

In all of the years she had never gave birth,
and now in old age this would be her first (Matthew 1:23).
Her time was near, I guess it was any day (Luke 2:5),
and now in 3 foot of snow she had wondered away.

I grabbed my hat and saddled my horse,
I prayed that the snow would let up of course.
Soon I was out looking over the snow covered ground,
but Ol Bessie just was nowhere to be found.

Morning melted to afternoon and afternoon to night,
Darkness fell fast as there was no moon for light.
The ground and the trees melted into one,
it was hard to tell which direction you were goin’.

I tried to yodel “Deck The Halls” to lift my spirit,
but in the north wind and the snow falling I couldn’t hear it.
It was and eerie weird almost scary quiet
yet I know’d I couldn’t turn back on this silent night.

Then I saw something dark a shadow in ‘gainst the snow,
it was old Tom Wheezer’s donkey done got loose you know.
That was his pride, the donkey was his joy,
no-one had ever sat on it not even his little boy.

So I tied him up and I led him along,
praying all the way that my Bessie wasn’t gone.
But at her age, and carrying a child you just never know,
’specially now as the bitter winds blow the hard drivin’ snow.

It was about midnight when my horse stumbled, almost knelt down,
I heard a strange, never before heard of sound.
I thought at first it was the mow of a cow,
yet it said “help me; I’m here” somehow.

I looked all around and then beneath a tree,
I spied a sight I had been wanting to see.
Old Bessie looked tired when I first saw here there,
and I saw a new born calf laying in her care (Luke 2:6).

He was to weak to walk and it was to cold to stay
so I laid him on that donkey to be carried away.
I reckon old Tom Wouldn’t be mad,
if a beautiful calf was the first rider his donkey had (Zechariah 9:9).

Now to get back home was going to be another worry,
there was no light to lead us in the squalls and the flury.
In the distance I saw the glimmer of a light (Matthew 2:2) ,
It was the Wheezer place man what a sight.

We went out to it, though it was a rough ride,
the calf on the donkey and old Bessie beside.
We made it to the Wheezer’s after a while,
old Tom saw his donkey and greeted us with a smile.

He told me to take his donkey to get my calf back.
He gave me some java a nice little snack.
Wrap your calf in this blanket to help keep him warm
He should do fine until you get back to the farm (Luke 2:7).

Tom was one of the wisest men I know’d (Matthew 2),
now here he was helping me out of the snow.
and his prize donkey he was letting my calf ride,
It gave me a warm feeling way down inside.

What’s the smell on the blanket I thought?
Must be spices and fragrances his wife had bought (Matthew2:11).
We finally made the track back home,
and I never knew what caused old Bessie to roam.

In the farm there wasn’t one stall for Bessie (Luke 2:7),
So I led ol Bessie to a corner that wasn’t messy.
I made the calf a bed of stray in the farm,
and he laid down and slept peaceful and unharmed.

I couldn’t help but wonder as I went home,
Why of all nights, tonight Bessie had roamed?
‘Tween the barn and the house the dawn started breakin’
It was Christmas mornin’ soon they’d be wakin’

I reckoned I had had harder days or harder nights
As I looked back and saw the mother and child what a sight.
That Christmas was one that in my mind will always stay,
I hope you and yours have a blessed Christmas day!

28 November

This morning passed as peaceful as one could want; there was a nice bright sunshine that glittered off the dew that had fallen over night. But, that wasn’t the case seventeen years ago on this date. Seventeen years ago the house rocked. I looked out the window to see fallen leaves swirling in the whirlwind that was blowing: A tornado warning had been issued while I slept; it hit as I woke. The events of that day are still a blur after all these years. My first thoughts were that I as in the house alone but, my mother’s voice changed that thought: Both parents, my sister and two dogs were also in the wreckage. And, the amazing thing was that through the total destruction, no one was harmed. I guess I was very reminiscent of Dorothy Gail when I opened my bedroom door and saw sky where the roof had once been. Then came the munchkins!

I have never seen such a stream of people bearing such a load of love. James wrote “Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted” (James 1:9). In a split second I became the “brother of low degree.” In the twinkling of an eye I became homeless. I had no shelter to keep the rain off me, no food, and no water. “In that he is exalted” was a phrase I don’t recall coming to my mind at the time.

But, what happened next changed that.

James wrote in James 2:15-16 “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? The community came together and one by one they came to see what we needed. Some offered food, others offered money. Some gave a hug to help dry up a tear, others asked what we needed. A few even made the offer of a house to stay in. These offers and gestures of love didn’t come from people I knew, though I must admit a few I did know, or a government agency, they came for the most part from people I had never met. Many of whom I have not seen since that day; many are faces that remain nameless. I was exalted by the love that was shown to my family in our time of need.

James went on to write “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:17). On 28 November 1988 I learned that not all faith in my community is dead. “shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works” (James 2:18). I saw the faith of my brothers not without works, but with works. I did not see a dead faith, the faith I saw was a living faith.

Many people who had suffered these circumstances would look back and see the tragedy of that day in November, I choose to look back and see how my brother in their show of love made their faith alive! “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26).

Bobby Cohoon
28 November 2005
North Carolina, USA
Little_sorrel@yahoo.com

OUT HERE HOPE REMAINS

John Dobbs lives on the Gulf Coast of the United States. A faithful gospel preacher, he preaches at the Central Church of Christ in Pascagoula, Mississippi. I have never visited the church; I have never met John Dobbs in person. I have read much of his words on his blog “Out Here Hope Remains.” On October 31, he wrote on his blog “Today started out as a rainy day, but was mostly overcast after that.” To most people a rainy day wouldn’t be a big deal. But, to John Dobbs it is. In August life as he knew it ceased and a new way began. John Dobbs’ world was turned upside down. John Dobbs was visited by hurricane Katrina.

Devastation became a big part of John’s life in August. His house was ruined, cars totaled, congregation was displaced and suffered the same things he did; John suffered monetary and psychological loses that most of us cannot not imagine even though we have seen the pictures on TV. But, there is one thing that the strong winds of Katrina couldn’t blow away: Hope.

No matter what state of devastation Katrina left John in it could not blow away the promises of God. Paul wrote to the Philippians, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). Paul wrote that no matter what condition he was in Christ would strengthen him to get through it. It is that “hope” that has gotten John Dobbs and his church through their brush with Katrina. For so many in that area “hope remains” because of Christ strengthening.

Paul wrote, “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need” (Philippians 4:12). Overnight John Dobbs and the congregation in Pascagoula learned what is was like to go from “abound” to “suffer need.” It would have been easy for them all to just throw the towel in and give up, yet they did the opposite. Because of the strengthening of Christ in all situations Hope remains.

To the church in Corinth Paul wrote, “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three” (1 Corinthians 13:13). Due to John Dobbs’ faith, hope remains. Due to John Dobbs’ charity (love), hope remains for many in that area.

To read about John’s ordeal and his updates visit his blog as http://remains.blogspot.com . If you can help those in that area there are addresses as well as list of many of the things that are needed. Pray for those in that area.

When you lay down tonight in the comfort of your home and rest your head on your nice soft pillow pray for John and all of those in that area who are resting their heads on hope because “out here hope remains.”

Bobby Cohoon

4 November 2005