That’s not to say I haven’t made progress. The past couple of years, I’ve even started putting out Nativity scenes and repurposing things on the mantel the day after Thanksgiving. Of course, I historically take it all away before noon on Christmas day.
I also have to confess that I have never put up outdoor Christmas lights. Its not that I’m opposed to a glow in the dark house, but Christmas lights don’t do it for me. I currently have outdoor lights strung on the pergola across the back of my house. They automatically come on every night. I think it is a good look and the lights don’t alter the dark sky above.
When it comes to outdoor Christmas lights, I’m not a fan. In addition, how many people find themselves taking down Christmas lights in freezing weather? The way I see it, what goes up must come down and cold weather and ladders seem like a caustic mix to me. I don’t want Christmas lights on the outside of my house.
Okay, so my life is a contradiction. When I was a kid growing up, one of the things we routinely did as a family was drive around to look at Christmas lights. You can rest assured that the General and I will drive by the courthouse in Johnson City to look at the Christmas lights this year. We do it every year. We’ll also drive past the wrapping of the trees display at PEC and marvel at the sight. If the weather is unseasonably warm, we may even walk through the Christmas wonderland they’ve created.
Actually, if you look around our home today, you aren’t going to see evidence that Christmas is around the corner. Maybe part of it stems from the fact that we were out of our home for most of October. Who knows, maybe the gap is partially responsible for our sluggishness in getting started on Christmas this year.
In addition, walking through our garage is a subtle reminder that things aren’t as they should be. When we moved everything out of the upstairs room over a month ago, it was temporarily stored in the garage. A month later, it doesn’t feel so temporary. Truthfully Goodwill or the dumpster would have been a better landing place. Ultimately that will be the outcome, but we are moving in slow motion (pardon the pun).
The only thing that isn’t moving in slow motion is the days of the calendar. How do we grasp the time we’ve been provided and glean the best? It goes by so quickly and before we know it, 2018 will be a year in the past.
Looming before us are concerns we can’t quite wrap our heads around. Global warming seems to be a topic over which we have no control or one that we haven’t exercised due diligence regarding. I guess it is like the “which came first the chicken or the egg question”. Are we simply reaping what we’ve sown? The correct answer probably isn’t: “Only God knows”.
This week’s news related to trouble at General Motors and planned closures of the automaker’s plants at several locations in North America is troubling. Ten years ago, GM was toppling and the government bailed them out because they were too big to fail. At least that was the rhetoric. Consequently, why not put 50.2 billion dollars into keeping them solvent? We did and they’re not. That seems like the bottom line and only time will tell what the future holds.
Getting a grasp on Christmas may be the best antidote for the worries and concerns that plague our nation. Seriously, our problems are beyond us. I like the way Max Lucado expresses it in his book Because of Bethlehem. He encourages us to:
- Rekindle your connection in the Christ of Christmas and find hope for a lifetime.
- Lay down your endless to-do list and receive what Jesus has already done.
- Heal your heartache by embracing the God who is always near you, always for you, and always in you.
Lucado adds: “God knows what it’s like to be a human. When we talk to him about deadlines or long lines or tough times, he understands. He’s been there. He’s been here. Because of Bethlehem we have a friend in heaven…Christmas begins what Easter celebrates. The child in the cradle became the King on the cross. Because of Bethlehem, we have a Savior in Heaven…These are the heart shaped promises of Christmas. Long after the holiday guests have left and the carolers have gone home and the lights have come down, these promises endure.”
We push back from the concept with the thought that Christmas is inconvenient this year. Like I said, other things vie for our attention. Isn’t it like that every year? The only thing that isn’t moving slowly is the days of the calendar. Perhaps it’s time we stop long enough to hit the re-set button and allow the “reason for the season” to fill our hearts with gratitude and wonder and hope.
All My Best!
Don