Our house smelled delicious. The smell of baking bread with a hint of christmas tree.
I loved the sounds too. Dad splitting kindling in the kitchen with our big knife, the crackling fire, and the "pop" when mom pried the lid off the homemade canned applesauce with a tableknife.
The presents under the tree had unmistakable allure...especially those which I couldn't identify by traditional methods of smelling, shaking, and pinching.
Christmas day, the tide of euphoria swept steadily in until the day's end, when I crawled into bed, a blissfully selfish rascal, wearing, hugging, and clutching at as many of my presents as I could.
Christmas Day-- Away.
I awake in the town of Banos, Ecuador. My friends and I have lived in a bus or hostel for the past month, and the long bus hours, hard beds, and cold showers have gradually become status quo. Banos means "Baths" in spanish, and the little town has been a holiday retreat for Ecuadorians for centuries. Nestled between steep hillsides and overlooked by an active volcano, Banos offers hot thermal baths, and lots of little cafes and shops designed to delight the tourists heart.
It is evening now, I spent the day on a rented bike of questionable quality, passing through beautiful mountain gorges and peddling madly along dirt tracks. Tired, I now rest inside a tiny telephone booth and listen absentmindedly to the noisy hum of young ecuadorians chattering about life. Picking up the receiver, I dial my phone card number, then 001 (U.S. int. code) then 1-207-725-7437.
Some minutes later, I set the phone back in it's socket, check carefully for my wallet, and then proceed to the hostel. My friends and I realize we haven't said anything about christmas all day long, and over the bubbling hum of our camping stoves, we quietly discuss what christmas is like thousands of miles away. Lying back in my bed clutching at my memories, I'm smiling, it is so good to know your missed.
Nearly a year has now elapsed since that day in Ecuador. I sleep in a cushy bed every night and expect electricity and hot water on command. Immersed in a culture of education, I hardly have time to think about this christmas, a christmas at home. I go to bed now, clutching fondly at memories of foreign lands, and happy at the expectation of this christmas, a christmas with my family.
5 comments:
Imagine Jesus - its His birthday after all - spending so many Christmases away from his family, you and me, his bride the church. How He must long for us all to be home together. The peruvians, the americans, the nigerians, the chinese, the latvians the canadians, the thai, the kiwi's and more many more; wishing them all home to celebrate,not just His birthday, but a home at last together, done with sorrow, enter joy, forevermore celebration.
Mr Howe (or Mrs. Howe-->i'm never sure which one you are!): what a neat thought! I can't wait!
John Elliot: Family christmas memories are some of the most special. Your poignant words are the closest I've seen to being able to describe such a warm feeling in absentia. (did I say that right? that was a hard sentence to construct....)
Long Reach has a good point, but what about this:
Why do we always connect Christmas with family and comfort? Jesus spent the first Christmas away from His Father and the Holy Spirit, helping people who could never pay Him back. Maybe we should do likewise...
paul:
I think you have a valid point. Besides that, Americans would undoubtedly do well to adopt a radical spirit of altruism over this Christmastide.
I also think you are assuming Christmas to be a little less of a cultural amalgamation than it really is! I feel free to enjoy a facet of Christmas that is an unabashed celebration of family and comfort, even though this may not be a direct corollary of the original Christmas.
Christ's spirit of self-sacrifice extended beyond the nativity, and if we are consistent, we should celebrate this spiritual Christmas 365 days a year.
Was it only a year ago? It seems as though you are bringing back memories of a different life in some other world. The other day I was asked to make a list of suggestions for those wanting to buy me gifts and after giving it some thought I could come up with painfully few suggestions - I have already been blessed with nearly everything I could want.
Post a Comment