Shade Tree Wisdom 12/5/08

What is the Christmas Spirit, and do you have it? I believe I caught a bit of it in action just yesterday. I was driving on the way to the market, and as I rounded the curve I saw, about a block ahead of me, a truck pulling a trailer loaded with bags of leaves. This was followed by a car. Just as I rounded the curve I saw a bag slip off the trailer in front of the car, which hit the bag and split it open. The truck driver didn’t notice and went on. But the driver of the car pulled over, put on the flashers, got out, picked up as much of the broken bag as she could, and placed it neatly on the side of the road. Yes, It was a lady, dressed for lunch or a meeting, and driving a Mercedes. About this time I drove by, gave her a big smile and a thumbs-up sign, she smiled back, got in, and drove off.

Is that it?

After Thanksgiving it begins, the rush and anxiety of getting everything ready for Christmas, the shopping, the baking, the decorating, the cards sent and received, the letters and notes addressed and sent, the choir practices and seemingly endless chores that need doing. We are so used to this that we take it for granted. Yes, we get a warm glow and a caring feeling, we send checks to needy causes and we try to visit a friend who is shut in. But there seems to be something missing in all this activity and busyness.

Many really do not understand what the Spirit is. They just get caught up in all the activity connected with the Season and enjoy it for its presents, parties, visiting, and gifting.

So maybe, if we re-read the story again, and really try to understand what it says, maybe then we can catch the Christmas Spirit.

Usually you can count on it. Every Christmas about this time, it starts. The public debate about manger scenes. When I as a child, nearly every city hall had one on display. But no more. While many want them, the anti-Christians, the atheists, the ACLU do not, and are vocal about it.

Many homes have them. Some simple, others quite elaborate. I have seen manger scenes carved by artists from Bavaria and the Black Forest. But we have seen them so often we are sort of immune to the real implications. Instead of putting us into as ‘holiday mood’, it ought to shake us to the roots of our souls. That’s what it was intended to do. And maybe that is the real reason for all the fuss about manger scenes. It comes from folks who, while they don’t believe a word of it, are still disturbed by its implications.

Because here is the message of Christmas, told to the shepherds. “You will find the babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger”. Our GOD, lying in a manger. Think of that. Our need was so great that God humbled Himself to take on human flesh. He loved us in our need, and came to rescue us. And in believing that, we begin to understand the real Spirit of Christmas.

GPD 12/5/08