Potem.

God has some plan for all of us. Currently unrevealed. Closer every day. Sunday May 3 2015 was one of those days where it took a leap.

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The delightful people with whom I’d made a missions trip to Haiti dropped by my church for service and then out to lunch. Not all of the Healing Haiti crew, not quite half. But the others were there in spirit. I really love these folks and was thrilled to introduce them to my church family.

Having attended my church for more than a few years, I’m comfortable inviting anyone to visit any time. Today, God sent me a message: continue on this path I’m setting out for you, and don’t waver. There is a role for you in this life as your alter ego, Joseph. Honor him.

Here I am in the pew with my fellow missionaries at that moment where my church welcomes visitors. They all stand and are recognized. Once that happens, the church leadership comes by to meet the new people. I stood up to shake some hands and the next thing I knew there was a small child reaching his arms out to be picked up. All that was lacking was the word “Potem” (Pick me up in Haitian Creole – and I’m probably spelling it wrong.) I reached down, scooped him up, and he immediately began to play with my beard and rub my bald head. All I could do is laugh.

Quiet time on the ledge.

Quiet time on the ledge.


Why? Because this never has happened outside of Haiti, much less in my church on a Sunday. I’m a fixture: they can find me every week. So the question is “Why this week?”

The answer is simple: I was with my Haitian family. The Holy Spirit that led this mission team through some of the most amazing, dark, beautiful, frightening, glorious things in our lives brought a small child to me Sunday to remind me of my role as “Papa Noel.” I am not saying that I’m turning in my badge at work, but this role as the patron saint of children is very important to me. And, it appears, to God.

I’m not quite ready to accept my gift for prophesy. For one thing, to the non-religious, anyone who says they’re a prophet is likely some lunatic in a cloak who eats grasshoppers and honey while ranting on a street corner. I have no cloak. The rest is just about right. More than anything, I’m exploring this gift God has given me and trying to find the boundaries and limits to where He’s leading me in this life.

For now, however, it is clear that being Papa Noel, either here or in Haiti, is part of His plan. My mission team seemed to think it was perfectly natural for me to do that. Not here. Not previously. But Sunday… Well, Sunday He opened my eyes a little wider.

All I can say is, “Ho, Ho, HO.” Some roles we were meant to occupy.

Be blessed. I surely am.

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