My husband called to let me know that we would be without our truck yet another weekend. This seemed to be the trend for the past year. We had driven within an hour of my sisters for a Christmas celebration (last year) when the 'engine' light came on. According to the truck computer we had only X amount of miles to drive before our speed would drastically reduce, and then X amount of miles to go before it would reduce yet again...and so on until it would stop completely. Downcast, we reversed direction and headed home. I had so looked forward to seeing family; nieces and nephews who would all be together for the first time in years, but it wasn't to be.
Long story short, our truck has a silly system on it which is incredibly expensive to fix or replace. We've been on the monthly payment plan for the past year to one of our kids and still haven't paid it all off. It wasn't just fixing this blankety-blank-blank system over the past year. It was new parts that didn't want to play nice with old, a computer that didn't want to recognize the new, batteries that died (two diesel truck batteries are more than one would expect)...new wine in old wine skins kinda thing. The latest ailment has been with the coolant system. After a few weeks of in and out of the shop for that we finally have it narrowed down. A coolant tube with a large blockage. Our poor, sickly, no voice left mechanic with his own back-log blockage of vehicles, no rest for the weary mechanic, will have it for us next week, just before Christmas.
Which reminds me of something else. Our basement toilet was leaking out of the base seal last week. The plumbers were scheduled to be here a few days later...no emergency here...until it was. Ground water, smelling like dirt (thank You Jesus, it didn't smell like something less appealing) from the yard was backing up from the basement drain. Running the washing machine or taking a shower exasperated the situation. Switching gears (and plumbers with bigger equipment) was a must. We had plans for a very large group of carolers followed by Christmas treats and hot cocoa in a few days. Beyond that, we had special company coming from overseas. With thoughts of no water, a yard dug up, and a second mortgage...well...you know. I was determined that this would not be a stressful Christmas! Even singing a song from my childhood came forward from the deep past in my mind...Count Your blessings...name them one by one.
O Joseph...Joseph! (Can't you just hear 'Clarence' the angel from the movie 'It's a Wonderful Life'? Yep! Me too!). St Joseph, please intercede! Each time I felt myself beginning to panic I called on that protector of families to pray with me...that 'Terror of Demons', for indeed I felt that all of this has been an attack on the family. 'Dear Lord', I prayed, 'clear the way for us. Help us, that we may serve You by serving our neighbors, bringing You to them...preparing the way for the Christ Child.'
Well thank the Good Lord, our prayers were answered. No torn up yard, just tree roots needed clearing from the drain. Clearing them out meant clearing a path to our basement pipe. It's not that we're pack rats or anything, but we just might need 300 used plastic grocery bags...you know how that goes.
We now have a side house door which hasn't been used in years, free and clear. So much 'stuff' heading out to the garbage, just before all of the lovely company comes (I'll put a little something extra in an envelope for the refuse man).
All of this takes me back to the First Sunday of Advent. A large snowstorm came through just in time for the weekend Masses. Fathers homily reflected his shoveling the paths...straight, clear, safe paths for the parishioners to receive The Lord. Advent, a time for us to make straight the paths in our own lives; clear out the clutter of the year and all we hang on to. We give these things up, similarly like we do in Lent.
Clogged coolant hoses, clogged sewer lines, and narrow paths down to the darkest rooms of our home give a good visual of how blocked our hearts can become when we hold on to the temporal things in life. The 'stuff', even relationships we may put too much of ourselves into, things that block out the Christ child coming to our hearts, Christmas Day and every day of the year.
May our hearts be emptied, our paths cleared and made straight this Christmas. May He fill our souls with sweet smelling hay to embrace the Babe (now that there is room).
(And maybe leave a little something out for the garbage man...that reminds me...I need to get to confession).
Merry Christmas
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