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Edinburgh during the holidays is absolutely beautiful. The city centre has turned into a winter wonderland with blue lights covering the trees, colorful carnival rides lining the streets, Christmas markets, delightful food, ice skating in the Princess Gardens outside the castle, and constant Christmas music filling the air.
At the beginning of the month my friend Drew Schmidt just so happened to be in the UK so he came up to Edinburgh for a couple days to visit and experience the city during the pre-holiday festivities. Check out my Picasso pictures to see some pictures of our adventures-traveling to castles, cafes, and hills around Sterling and Edinburgh. I was so excited to be able to share a little bit of my life I’ve made here with a good friend from back home.
For me, Christmas time has always been a joyful time spent with close family and friends- Coming together after a busy semester at college, taking time off work, celebrating Jesus, decorating the tree, going to church on Christmas eve, playing games, baking Christmas cookies, and buying gifts. And while I love spending Christmas this way, and I missed it quite a bit, I saw Christmas in a new light this year.
I spent most of Christmas Eve and Christmas day working at Bethany with the guys. And for most of them, they remember their Christmas season pretty much the complete opposite of mine. It’s a dangerous time, a day of drinking, no family to spend it with, or no family they would want to spend it with, decorations and Christmas carols become annoying quickly, and no one can really “be bothered” with going to church. And to follow up Christmas, the day after (known as Boxing day) is the biggest day to gamble in the country.
I was nervous to say the least of how the guys would handle the holidays. For the past two weeks they have not had any groups or formal meetings as we want to give them a break over Christmas and the New Year. This can be a good thing and a bad thing. Good because they are able to totally relax but bad in a sense that too much relaxation can make one feeling extremely bored and frustrated with too much time. I know it has been a struggle for them but at the same time when I look around at each one of them, I know they are in a safe place at Bethany.
Bethany is a place where guys are able to live in a community together with common struggles. It is a place filled with people who want to listen to them and encourage them and it is a place where God’s love is overflowing.
This Christmas I was humbled and honored to be able to support and give to the guys at the centre. Although I was absolutely exhausted after cooking a meal for 20 and wrapping their gifts, it was a blessing from God to be able to she
d a little bit of Jesus light onto them.Please pray for their guidance and protection during this vulnerable time.
"Life in community is no less than a necessity for us, an inescapable 'must'... all life created by God exists in communal order and works toward community." -- Eberhard Arnold
I hope your Christmas was filled with the joy of the spirit.
Love and Peace to you all in the New Year.
