December 5th, 2007
‘Tis the Season
“But those who still reject me are like the restless sea, which is never still but continually churns up mud and dirt.”
Isaiah 57:20
“Tis the Season to be jolly, fa la la la la la la la la” we all blithely sing. Are you jolly? When December came, I suddenly felt behind. The Christmas letter was not yet started, the cookies and candy not made, the Christmas shopping was not yet done (in fact, I had not even collected the ideas from extended family), we still needed to get a tree and have a “peaceful” family time decorating it. Yesterday on my way home from shopping, I caught myself getting a bit panicky about all the things that still needed to be done before Dec. 25. Then I caught myself. First of all, it was really only Dec. 4th. I still had 21 more days.
Secondly, Christmas is not about all the traditions, glitz or spending. Christmas is about praising God for loving us so deeply that he sent his son into this dark world. We all know this, but for me it needs to be a daily reminder. I read a friends’ newsletter in which she wrote, “Eugene Peterson translates John 1:14. ‘The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood’”. Doesn’t that just sum it up? He moved into the neighborhood with all the messed up priorities, selfishness, greed, anger and pride. He moved into our neighborhood. And he brought light. He brought hope. He brought peace.
Isaiah 57:18-19 comments that God knows humanity. He knows all about us. “I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway! I will lead them….May they have abundant peace, both near and far.” He brings peace to those who love him. The next verse reminds me so much of the long shopping lines, the hurried chaos, the flaring tempers I see at the store during this season. “But those who still reject me are like the restless sea, which is never still but continually churns up mud and dirt.” This season it is so easy to be one who focuses not on Jesus, but on all our responsibilities. However, that only “churns up mud and dirt”. What a mess!
So, my Christmas letter may be a New Years letter again this year (or, Valentines letter as it was one year). I know that the primary shopping will get done, and if it doesn’t the person probably didn’t need it anyway. I do enjoy picking out the tree and decorating it as a family (We try to have a “picnic” of cookies and eggnog on the floor next to the tree after we decorate it). That’s always fun. I will take the time to deliberately enjoy this season with my family and church as we focus on the one who moved into our neighborhood.