I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving…
I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed the dream I dreamed.
Fantine "Les Miserables"
In the stage adaptation to Victor Hugo's morally-rich story "Les Miserables", we meet Fantine. She's a single mom with a daughter living far away under the suspect care of con-like inn keepers. And having recently lost her job she is being pushed into a life of prostitution. Two short passages from her despondent soliloquy are found above. Read them again.
Oh, how she speaks for multitudes around us.
Life begins with dreams intact…there is every reason to hope for the future…the sky looks incredibly blue up ahead. And then life happens! There is an enemy of the human soul that loves to steal dreams and turn them into smoldering piles of foul-smelling ashes. And it's happened to millions of people who populate your world.
During this Christmas season try to see past the glassy-eyed look of the holiday shoppers. Read between the lines in the hyped attempt at levity. Discern what's behind the slumped shoulders and quickly fading smile when people don't think they're being observed. There are a myriad of slaughtered dreams around us…too many are already living in hell.
As the people of Evergreen, is there spiritual work for people of peace living in a land of chaos? Can the forgiven find a job among those living under the heavy yoke of condemnation and guilt? Can we find gainful employment as light-bearers among those who sit in stifling darkness?
To the Fantines of our world, Christmas must contain God's message spoken through Jeremiah the Old Testament prophet: 11 For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen.” Jeremiah 29:11
Our God plants heaven-originated dreams into our hearts. He has come to see the longings of our hearts fulfilled, not dashed. We live with this heavenly expectation in our hearts as a church family. As a part of our mission let's help Fantine find God's forgiveness and re-ignite her dreams. And if her story is yours at this Christmas time let the Holy Spirit personalize the angel’s words to those frightened shepherds, “I bring you tidings of great joy. Your Savior has arrived!”
Have a blessed Christmas.
Pastor Paul