JTC: Buying Christmas

For God SO loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.
John 3:16

As tradition goes, I love watching Hallmark Christmas movies this time of year.  Hour after hour of cheesy, romantic holiday films.  I love the over the top way that every actor/actress portrays their celebratory joy.  The on set trees, and bright colors,  and even the way that I want to believe that there really is a Santa Clause.  But alas, every movie ends, and so does the urge to shout, “I believe, Santa! I believe!”

Every once in awhile one of these yuletide photodramas ends and I walk away with a thought deeper than Santa.  This happened the other day.  I was watching a film that depicted Santa as having two daughters.  One “naughty” one “nice.”  The naughty one was trying to sell off pieces of the North Pole.  Until the nice daughter intervened.  Through magic powers and a little help from technology, she reclaims all of the “pieces of the Pole” that have already been sold and shipped.

The nice daughter makes a speech about how the Pole is meant for ALL people and cannot be owned by individuals.  As she was delivering her monologue I was struck by this thought, “Isn’t that what we try to do every year? We don’t try to ” buy the North Pole,” but we do try to ‘buy Christmas.'”

We run and rush around, stressing over the perfect gifts for others, and ourselves.  Seemingly trying to “own” a piece of Christmas.  Thinking that if somehow we can just please the right person or own the right present that our lives will be complete.  Yet year after year pass, and we are no happier than the last.  For the joy, happiness, and contentment, we wish to attain stay just out of reach, for we reach for the wrong things.

I would challenge you to reach for something new this year.  To look higher than the tallest shopping center, past the brightest light display, and through the mounds of sweets that you will find yourself surrounded by this season.  My prayer is that you would grasp something new this year.  Not the things that you  can receive or buy.  But the only piece of this season that we can truly “own.”  God’s love.  Demonstrated to us by the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, Immanuel, God with us.

I pray that He would reveal a new piece of Himself to you.  That you would experience this gift in a new way, and find a contentment that you have never experienced before.  Wrapped in His arms.  Not unlike a baby swaddled in cloth and lying in a manger.

Merry Christmas.

WV