What I Saw Poem by Curtis Johnson

WHAT I SAW
By Curtis Johnson

It was not the first time, nor would it be the last time that I would observe with pleasure that which I am privileged to see only once a year. This time, it was a Sunday morning as I drove to church. There is simply no other day like this one in America and much of the entire world. It was no surprise to me, because it happens every year. It's just that I will never get use to it as long as I live. I'm sure you saw it also in your neighborhood.

The two major grocery stores within a block of each other in my community were closed, one of which is normally opened 24/7. Some service stations and drug stores were opened, and so were the 711 convenient store; but the major shopping centers were all closed. Sundays are generally tamer than other days, but this Sunday morning was more than tame. The massive parking lots were virtually empty, and I do declare here and now that today is truly in a deep state of rest with most of its activities greatly curtailed. I only wish that I had a picture of those empty parking lots.
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I must also say that today, the mere absence of commerce, shopping, and the emptiness of the parking lots were in their own way making a declaration of some type. They were speaking with one voice and saying, 'A child was born many years ago, and today we celebrate his birth'! ! ! !

Many people are going to church today who otherwise would not be attending. On today, this group will usually make special efforts to get to church either out of tradition, or because they really do believe that a special child was born, and that he died for a very special purpose. Some of these will renew or change their minds and recommit to going back to church.

Perhaps you were thinking that I saw some miraculous event or sited some angelic occurrence. Maybe you are thinking that I saw some magnanimous random act of kindness. Could it be that you assumed I witnessed a special sun rising or a special cloud formation? No, none of the above was things that caused me to pause, or stare, or become afraid and overwhelmed like the shepherds in the field keeping watch over their sheep by night.

Nevertheless, I must say that I did observe and took note of the miracle that causes commerce to take a break without force. That is scary. I also sited the calming tide of inactivity in my route to church as if the angelic host had spoken pause to the atmosphere. I tell you, the act of kindness that I reflected upon was not in the least at random. No, the entire world had specifically been targeted with an offer to whosoever will. The very solemnity and tranquility of a morning like this has already shown to me that the child has shone brighter than the sun in the hearts of millions, and like a beautiful slow moving cloud, a love haven for him has been formed in the hearts of mankind the world over. The eternal one had demonstrated and provided over two thousand years ago enough love to reach every human being that ever walked on the earth. And today, the world that I witnessed paused and bowed at his feet. Cj12272011