Enjoy this classic Christmas Story by J. Edgar Park entitled:
The Man Who Missed Christmas
George Mason's life was centered in his business. He lived alone and refused all invitations to socialize. His brother's family had urged him to visit but the children always made too much noise. Besides, he didn't want to buy presents for his nephews and nieces. Instead he bought some good records for himself and planned to listen to them and enjoy Christmas at home alone. On Christmas Eve after his employees left, George Mason went into the office vault to get a little extra cash. Soundlessly, on newly oiled hinges, the great door swung shut behind him. Sudden darkness and the final click of the automatic lock startled him and he panicked.
Desperately, he pounded on the door, but before long he realized that no one would hear him. Everyone had gone home and he was in the office alone. Even the cleaning lady had gone. He recalled hearing of people suffocating in vaults. He was frightened out of his wits. Maybe he could make it through the night if he was quiet and breathed slowly. In the morning the employees would arrive, open the vault and he would be fine. Then he remembered that tomorrow was Christmas. The office was closed. Everyone would be at their homes. No work, no people, no luck! His heart pounded with fear and wondered if he could get enough air to last two days. He calmed himself and tried to think. It was a new vault. It seems like the salesman said it has a safety feature of an air hole. He began feeling around in the darkness. All around and then up and down before he finally located a screen hole at the top. It was too small for a thief but large enough for air.
He sat on the cold floor of the vault and began his vigil of waiting for Christmas. Christmas Eve passed, Christmas Day passed. He had wanted to be alone for Christmas but not this way. He was extremely uncomfortable, hungry and thirsty... the air was getting damp and cold. It was awful. The dark was so intense...
The day after Christmas the chief cashier arrived and disengaged the automatic lock of the vault but did not open the door. Without any one seeing him George Mason staggered out of the safe and made his way to the water cooler. He grabbed his coat and hailed a taxi and went home to his lonely residence. Later in the day he returned to the office. No one had missed him. As he pondered his experience he decided to make a sign and place it beside the safe door. It was for all to read, but it was a reminder to him. The words were: "To love people, to be needed somewhere, that is the secret of happiness."
Although George never married, he had learned a valuable lesson about family and the need for one another.
(Pastoral Note: Christmas should be a shared experience-don't try it alone. If you are aware of someone alone, invite them to share it with your family or friends. God did not make us to be alone but share life with others-especially at Christmas)
Christmas Blessings,
Pastor Ron