*cough*
We're just going to ignore the fact that I
haven’t posted in 3 weeks. Sorry, I was too busy watching Christmas movies.
This whole month I’ve been extremely psyched and gung-ho
about Christmas- and winter-related activities. Oh you know, the usual: ice
skating (on our own backyard ice rink), caroling, holiday parties, shopping, cutting
down a Christmas tree, baking and
decorating Christmas cookies…
I was so excited about all the possible fun stuff I could
do, not to mention getting off work on a Friday night, that all my enthusiasm and great plans have carried me through almost the whole month of December... without actually doing any of them.
Seriously, you can imagine my disappointment when I
realized yesterday that it was December 22nd--and the only cute,
festive activity I’d actually done is make homemade salted caramel hot
chocolate. I love Christmas Day and all, but the weeks leading up to it are the
height of festivities, and they’ve whooshed right by me.
Even the exhilarating adventure of chopping down our
Christmas tree was kind of a letdown. We arrived at the tree farm, armed with a measuring tape and a saw, but just as we
were about to brave the blowing snow and roam the acres of tundra in search of the perfect tree, we
happened to walk past a row of pre-cut evergreens. My dad held one up to look at, just for the heck of it, and ten minutes later, it was on top of our car as we drove home. I mean, I suppose it was convenient that
the very first tree we looked at happened to be the perfect one, but so much for the 6 layers of socks and
invigorating trek into the woods. I felt a little cheated.
In a mood of self-pity because I hadn’t done all this fun
social stuff, I happened to flip to the Christian radio station and Brandon Heath’s Christmas
song “Just A Girl” was on. I hadn’t heard it before, and was about to switch
the station when I got drawn in by the cool guitar part and melody.
As I listened to the nativity story told through the eyes of
the innkeeper, my mood slowly began to change.
It’s impossible in my household not to know this story
inside and out…and honestly, it can get a bit stale sometimes. As important as
the Christmas story is, I sometimes get sick of hearing the same old historical
events year after year.
But when I listened to this fresh perspective and different
twist on Christ’s birth, everything become alive again, and I got chills as I
pictured what he was narrating.
It was exactly what I needed to hear. I could hear the Lord
telling me that I was completely missing the point of the Christmas season. The
same point that has been drilled into me year after year by my parents and at
church.
No wonder I felt so empty and shallow. I had so focused all
my time and energy for three and a half weeks on secular holiday doings (or wishing
for them anyway) that I had neglected bettering myself and preparing a place for
Christ in my heart.
I felt like a little kid as those hackneyed phrases ran
through my mind: “Jesus is the reason for the season”--“It’s not about getting,
it’s about giving”--“Don’t get caught up in the hustle and bustle. Remember
what we’re celebrating.”
And so better late than never, in these last few days before
Christmas, I’ve been trying to do a speed cleansing of the soul. A quick
version of Advent...4 days!
I won’t say something utterly cliché about not losing the real
reason for Christmas…but maybe we should just try to find a new point of view
and listen when God calls us in a different way than we expected.
I think the words of the well-known Advent hymn are a lovely
prayer to help us do this:
“Come, Thou long
expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free!
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.”
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.”
Well, enjoy the rest
of your Advent!
…or, wait, have a Merry
Christmas!
beautifully put! :)
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