Pastor's Corner: Love, Humility and Grace

She has continued to loyally present herself in the cold to the people of Havre. For many years, she takes time out of her life to portray a historical and religious image. She is recognized, expected, but not really known. The residents of Hill County and Havre expect her presence; yet they don’t even know her name! Molly. Molly is a donkey. Molly is the donkey which has patiently stood in the parking lot of the Van Orsdel United Methodist Church for 18 years. Molly portrays the humble beast of the bible, and she helps all of us to remember the story of Christmas. Molly stands in the crèche with all of the other wonderful creatures of God, to help represent those possibly present at the birth of our Lord.

The sparkling lights, the masses of bling, the shine of expensive wrap and bow; oh! That commercial Christmas we are all pulled into and hope to bring to our loved ones. We want our loved ones to have the best. We work hard, sometimes too hard, to give the best to our loved ones. Reaching for what we did not have, striving for something better, hoping for “the gift” of Christmas. Can the best electronic gift be the gift this year? Can the expensive clothes, jewels, tools, toys be the right gift this Christmas?

Molly could teach us a lesson on the true giving of self, the gift of selflessness, the gift that we really want our loved ones to possess. Love.

Love and humility.

Love and loyalty.

Love and faith.

Faith, believing in what we do not see but in what we feel, what we hope for, what we believe in. It really is so simple, yet so complex, our busy lives do not allow us to stop and see, hear or breathe in the love of God.

Molly and all of her faithful companions come to stand for hours to let Hill County and Havre residents peek in on a miracle of the past. A miracle of a child born in lowly means, a stable, a cave, not a Holiday Inn! We recognize the donkey (her name is Molly) standing at the live nativity on 5th Avenue in Havre, Montana. She stands with her companions: creatures and humanity. All have been pulled together from warm homes, comfy barns and open fields to remind us of the birth of Jesus Christ — a lone child born in humble estate, a gift given to all who seek salvation, a promise of reconciliation. A promise from God — an infant born in our hurtful, busy, and too often angry world. Freely given to us is the gift of grace.

Freely given is not a concept we can even wrap our minds around as we run up our credit cards, pinch pennies and borrow to “purchase” the joy of Christmas. Freely given to all of humanity that has lived, that is living and that will live. Grace provided in the child of God. Can we take a step to give freely this busy Christmas? Take a moment to reach out to others in need, even if you don’t know them. Give freely with humility. May the peace of Christ be with you all year long.

(The Rev. Dolly R. Collins, Van Orsdel United Methodist Church)