Security Check

"How much money does everyone get?" the adorable 5th grader asked me as I quickly scanned the directions for a game I'd never seen before. "Everyone gets $1 million and this is how it's doled out....." The boy playing the game with us was thrilled to hear he'd soon have a million bucks! The table where we sat was surrounded by the chaos of kids just being dropped off at church for almost three hours so their parents could shop for Christmas. "What kind of pizza is for dinner? What are we doing? Is there a movie? Which movie? What's the craft? Do we have to stay in this room?"  Susie kept giving us little piles of money and Joey was very eager to get started. Then, Susie stopped counting for a minute, looked at the three adults in the room, and said to me, "Oh, this is perfect! You're the grandma, Whitney's the mom, and Ann's the aunt! Perfect!" and she returned to counting. Then, it was time for pizza and gingerbread house decorating and everything else they did that evening. The game was put aside and never played. I venture to guess that Susie and Joey never gave it a second thought.

Susie's statement has stayed with me for the past two days. She counted three adults in the room, gave us roles with inherent responsibilities, and pronounced the situation "perfect." In other words, the chaotic scene in the room passed her security check and she felt safe.

In Genesis 19 Abraham and Sarah offered hospitality to three strangers who appeared at their tent. They served the best food they had and made them comfortable. In 1425 this scene was depicted by  the famous religious icon, The Trinity, by Andrei Rublev. Theologians have debated the meaning of the three visitors for centuries.  Angels or maybe the Trinity? In Rublev's depiction, the Holy Spirit gestures to the open space at the table as if to invite the observer to sit down, break bread, share life, and to become part of the magnificent God story. The story of Advent. The story of Christmas.

So, when I think of Susie's proclamation of perfection, I put myself in her place. Who's in the room with me?

In other words, how's my Advent security check going? How well am I listening? How well am I waiting? What am I anticipating? Do I understand the  magnificent invitation to join the Trinity at table this holy season?

Perfection is coming and it's already here.  The children know this better than any of us.