“Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care…” They say confession is good for the soul. It really had not been my intent to openly confess a character flaw in one of my blogs. Perhaps my annual Christmas morning tradition of taking down the Christmas tree and boxing up all the decorations has become so much a part of my routine, that I don’t find it strange. It is the norm for me. Unfortunately, I’m out of sync this year. None of that has happened at our house yet and I’m beginning to think it may not. Did I mention we’ve been busy? Grandchildren and grand-dogs – our lives have been full. A thoughtful reader of my blogs (obviously one of my favorite new friends) called my hand on such a pagan practice. “Excuse me, but Christmas is not over until the wise men arrive (Epiphany)...and then there are the 12 days of Christmas (song) AND after all the work decorating why not enjoy it a while longer and stay in the Christmas spirit? Some people leave their decorations up year round!! Saves time and storage space. Wouldnt it be great if the spirit of Christmas stayed with us year round. Happy New Year!” “If Everyday Could Be Like Christmas” was a concept promoted by Elvis, but he wasn’t the first to suggest the concept. The angel announcing the gift of Christmas, the gift of Christ expressed it this way, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Wouldn’t “peace on earth” closely parallel the gift of Christmas, the gift of Christ? John Ortberg has a thought provoking book entitled: Who is this Man ? The Unpredictable Impact of the Inescapable Jesus. The first chapter in the book is entitled, “The Man Who Won’t Go Away” expresses it like this: “Normally when someone dies, their impact on the world immediately begins to recede. As I write this, our world marks the passing of digital innovator Steve Jobs. Someone wrote that ten years ago our world had Bob Hope, Johnny Case, and Steve Jobs; now we have no Jobs, no Cash, and No Hope. But Jesus inverted this normal human trajectory, as he did so many others. Jesus’ impact was greater a hundred years after his death than during his life; it was greater still after five hundred years; after a thousand years his legacy laid the foundation for much of Europe; after two thousand years he has more followers in places than ever. “…While Jesus was alive, he had no place to live. Yet today I live in the San Francisco Bay area, which has its name because a man named Francis was once a follower of this man Jesus. Our state capital is name Sacramento, because Jesus once had a meal with his followers – the Last Supper- that became known as a Sacrament. You cannot look at a map without being reminded of this man. “Every time we glance at a calendar or date a check, we are reminded that chronologically at least, this incredibly brief life has become somehow the dividing line of history. “Jesus never wrote a book. Yet his call to love God with all one’s mind would lead a community with such a reverence for learning that when the classical world was destroyed in what are sometimes called the Dark Ages, that little community would preserve what was left of its learning. “The Roman Empire into which Jesus was born could be splendid but also cruel, especially for the malformed and diseased and enslaved. This one teacher had said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these…you did for me.” An idea slowly emerged that the suffering of every single individual human being matters and that those who are able to help ought to do so. “Understanding his life is like trying to wake up from a dream. It’s like listening to an answer which- when you get it- you’ll realize you always somehow knew. Like light on a strange path that, when you follow it, turns out to lead you home. “Jesus vision of life continues to haunt and challenge humanity. His influence has swept over history like the tail of a comet, bringing his inspiration to influence art, science, government, medicine, and education; he has taught humans about dignity, compassion, forgiveness and hope. “G.K. Chesterton expressed it like this – ‘It has never been quite enough to say that God is in his heaven and all is right with the world; since the rumor is that God had left his heavens to set it right.’” Dr. James Allen Francis expressed the same concept in One Solitary Life. The poem was written in 1926. He was born in an obscure village, The child of a peasant woman. He grew up in still another village, Where he worked in a carpenter shop Until he was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a house. He didnt go to college. He never visited a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles From the place where he was born. He did none of the things One usually associates with greatness. He had no credentials but himself. He was only thirty-three When the tide of public opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. He was turned over to his enemies. And went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross Between two thieves. While he was dying, His executioners gambled for his clothing, The only property he had on Earth. When he was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave Through the pity of a friend. Twenty centuries have come and gone, And today he is the central figure Of the human race, And the leader of mankinds progress. All the armies that ever marched, All the navies that ever sailed, All the parliament that ever sat, All the kings that ever reigned, Put together have not affected The life of man on Earth As much as that One solitary life. The gift of Christmas, the gift of Christ is of such significance that everyday should be like Christmas. All My Best! Don
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 11:58:07 +0000
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