Today I got to realize a life long dream, I got to live out a secret fantasy of mine – sort of.  Today I had the privilege of playing Santa Clause and Secret Agent at the same time. That’s because what I was doing today necessitated merging those two skill sets and identities together into one person.  Today that person was me!

It’s not like I haven’t had years of on the job training for at least one of those roles. (no, not Secret Agent)  but – the role of Santa Clause, yes.  Back in the day, I was Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy all rolled into one person. And those duties were carried out mostly successfully over a period of some years.  I’ve had plenty of on the job training and experience for sure.

Actually the tooth fairy was the trickiest role of the three, if you ask me, because it required a touch of the Secret Agent skill set to get the job done successfully.  I had some failed and some aborted missions trying to execute my duties as tooth fairy, come to think of it. Nevertheless, all that past experience helped prepare me for the mission I found myself on today.

Today I was part of a mission of mercy.  I was one of many agents.  We were all working together to execute the overall objective of the mission.  I was just one piece of the larger puzzle, but every piece has to execute to precision in order to ensure success.  Every piece has to know where he/she fits in to the bigger picture and then blend in by doing his/her part.

It all started with an email several days ago.  I responded in the affirmative and was told I would receive further information in an email yet to come.  When I received that email and responded by not responding, I then received final instructions necessary to carry out the mission, including classified information such as names, addresses and phone numbers.

I was told where and when to report and advised not to exit my vehicle at that time under any circumstances.  I printed off the email so as to have the critical information with me and drove to the rendezvous location, arriving at the appointed time.  As instructed, I remained in my vehicle while several masked men and women loaded large trash bags, partially full, into the back of my car, then disappeared back into the building from which they had come.

Conversation wasn’t necessary.  I was now on my own, entrusted with completing this final phase of the mission.  Many had performed their tasks prior to my arrival.  The preparing of the contents and the filling and the labeling of the trash bags had all been executed to perfection.  The identifying of the targets, the locating of the targets’ whereabouts, communicating with the targets – these critical parts of the mission had all been completed as part of the groundwork that was expertly laid, making the final execution of this mission not only possible but ensuring that it was safely and securely and successfully carried out.

That was my part of the mission – to discover the different destinations and to deliver the goods – all with no human contact and in a timely manner, as the trash bags contained time sensitive materials.  Get in and get out – that is the objective. The targets/recipients never lay eyes on me and likewise I don’t see them either. No identities are compromised during the execution of this highly sensitive mission.

As I drove around, seeking out each targeted destination, I definitely felt like a Secret Agent on a top secret mission.  And a little like Santa Clause too, although I didn’t have to go down any chimneys.  “The drop” was to be made at the front door of each targeted destination, then I was to drive away after confirming by phone that the target was home to receive the “goods.”

What could be more inconspicuous than an ordinary trash bag on a front porch? Genius!  And how great did I feel after all my “drops” went down successfully?  (that was a rhetorical question, no answer will be given)  So today I confess – I really like this Secret Agent/Santa Clause assignment and I look forward to doing lots more of these food deliveries for my church.

I am so thankful for all the hardworking “secret agents” behind the scenes, preparing the food, organizing the deliveries, enlisting the volunteers and providing them with all the information necessary to make this food drop operation work.  I felt so privileged today to participate in this ongoing outreach and care ministry that Brookside Church is doing right now, for such a time as this.

“For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited Me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me.  Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry  . . . or thirsty  . . .  or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison and go visit You.’  The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’ ”   (Matthew 25:35-40)

today, as with every day during this pandemic shutdown, the church has left the building – because the church is not the building – the church is the people – and the people are out there being the hands and feet of Jesus to this hurting world – what joy to be a part of that today!

sincerely,     Grace Day