“For unto us a Child is born (God has made an intimate connection to us), unto us a Son is given (His sacrifice would satisfy the broken connection to God for us)”
Christmas is a wonderfully strange time of the year. There are so many traditions that have been carried in, that have morphed in and that have crept in, that would be very alien to the season and day that Jesus was born. (And this monologue is no way intended to be “Grinch-attitude” or “Scrooge-like”, please bear with me until the punch line it may have an impact.) Isn’t it wild how a house or town or city is sensed to be “Christmassy” by the lights, the luminaries, wreathes, decorated trees, flashing shrubbery, ribbon bowed fences , foil covered imitation packages, monster sized candy canes, be-dazzled sleds with decorative ice skates, jovial inflatables, molded images, wooden jig- sawed images, ringing and in-ring-able bells, glittery tinsel, unending strands of winding garland, endless images of smiling bearded men, pointed ear children, hot cocoa with marshmallows, and the air filled with all sorts of mixtures of pine/cinnamon/cranberry/cookie oil candle scents. It is a time of whimsical expectation, magical delight and fearless thoughts of entitlement of peace and goodness. NOEL! (Christmas? Birthday? Noah? Peace? No Elohim? One God? … wow, we even sing a word that “if that's what they think, hence, that's what it means” - still I only have a clue … So Noel is Jesus! Cool!)
What a tense season, really! There seems to be a struggle between ignorance,humility, moderation and “go for the gold” in order to get the “gold star”, or “thumbs up”, or to somehow hide from observation from the mysterious invisible Giver of Gifts. Whatever we do, we must take action! We have multiple choices of action in the “Holiday” season”, here are just a couple:
1.To work real hard at being politically correct so as not offend anyone (which in doing this … it isn't you, and you will probably appear insincere!).
2.To be a hermit and communicate with only those you feel comfortable in communicating your joys, fears and complaints(this will once again be an overload on you, and you become a burden on that small select few).
3.To Be Real ...take full advantage of whatever degree of love you have for the King of Kings during this season that marks the time of His birth … and let that love naturally spill upward and outward (Still you will be misunderstood by some but at least they will know your connection).
“And the government shall be upon His shoulders” (The results of actions of History, He takes full responsibility for ...the glory is in the details, and Blood of the Cross covers it all … for those who trust in Him).
The morning after Christmas Day, I was dragging the “Mobile Waste Unit” (I have no set nor intimate name for this carrier of stink and waste) back to its six day resting point, when I observed a few trash refugees that had managed to escape the previous nights efforts to do away with the remains of the holiday. I actually paused and snapped a picture of them(attached). I prayed at that moment to not let the season stop. I want everyday to be a celebration of eternal life... so that this Abundant Life in Jesus that has been given to “all who believe”, can be seen by those who are yet to believe as the reality of the active love that God has bestowed on us as “Birthed from Above” kids.
“And He SHALL be called … Wonderful (My King of Wonders)… Counselor (My Closest Confidant) ...the Mighty God (My potential belongs to Him and Him alone) ... Everlasting Father (My Daddy Eternal) … the Prince of Peace (My true source and ruler of the fabric of my peace)”.
For the sake of your heart read to understand Isaiah 9:1-7 and rejoice this season is yours.
Merry Eternal Christmas!! Let's be resilient joyous refugees of the continuing season of the Grace of God. Be not thrown away! Though we may be strangers and aliens during these weird momentary seasons of life, our connection to our eternal home is becoming more intimate as we walk daily in Heaven's Noel.
HLFA,
Jeff