The atrium of Rockford Baptist Church at night.
“In the beginning was
the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He
was with God in the beginning. All things were created
through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created
that has been created. Life was in Him, and that life was the light
of men. That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness
did not overcome it. There was a man named John who was sent
from God. He came as a witness to testify about the light, so
that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but he came
to testify about the light. The true light, who gives light
to everyone, was coming into the world. He was
in the world, and the world was created through Him, yet
the world did not recognize Him. He came to His own, and His own
people did not receive Him. But to all who did
receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God,
to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, or of
the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God. The
Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed
His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son
from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified
concerning Him and exclaimed, “This was the One of whom
I said, ‘The One coming after me has surpassed me, because He
existed before me.’”) Indeed, we have all received grace after grace
from His fullness, for the law was given through Moses, grace and truth
came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God.
The One and Only Son— the One who is
at the Father’s side— He has revealed Him. John 1:1-18 (HCSB)
Alright so this year I
am being a Scrooge. There, at least I
admit it and for some reason some say that the first step in recovery is to
admit you have a problem. Some folks, besides
me, need to take that advice and apply it.
But I didn’t come to preach, I came to tell you about my Christmas.
In years past I have
gone to the extreme to decorate for Christmas.
I have lined the fences around our house, when we first got married and
lived on a farm, with Christmas lights to the point that my wife accused me of
trying to land a 747. The next year we
added a star on the television antennae tower and a wreath to the dairy
house.
As it evolved, we added
a lighted manger and the last year we were there we built a Christmas tree from
hay rounds, outlined with colored lights.
But this caused no small excitement, as it went up in smoke. Yep, you are correct, it caught fire and
burned for three days.
First decorating here, I
put lights on everything that would not move and it looked so pretty. The next year I built a tree of lights and it
too added to the decorative theme. We
repeated that the next year, but the last two years we have not decorated the
yard. On the porch we put up blue lights
as a part of Project Blue Light (www.fallenofficersremembered.org) and a
wreath which is unique as it is made with love by my wonderful bride.
Inside the house we
have a tree, knickknacks, Christmas greenery, and all of the beauty of
commercialized Christmas. It is always
special as Savannah and Tina take time to make it a special holiday. Beautiful.
Yet, this year we have
not done as we have in the past. We have
not gone out of the way. As a matter of
fact, it is December 18, 2013 and we still do have a tree inside. The boxes of decorations, collectables, and
the likes are still packed away and in the closet; most likely they will stay
where they are.
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Oh we have a tree we are
going to retrieve and place in the den for Santa, hang Savannah’s stocking on
the mantel, and fill the floor with wrapped presents and Santa will add to our
little treasure trove; of this I’m pretty sure. But we are not going out of the way to
decorate.
Due to this, some folks
have had no pleasure in seeing their pastor or friend in this kind of
situation. They are rather alarmed at my
outward display of non-committal to the commercialization of Christmas.
In order to see the
pastor/friend spirits raised to a higher level, I received a surprise Saturday
afternoon. Tina came in and announced
that someone had decorated the front of the house. I was shocked! We don’t ever use the front porch so I was
even more surprised when I ventured out to check out the situation.
There on the porch was
an artificial tree, poor thing. It had
both large gaudy bulbs and those little bulbs, all in multi-colors, a star
several sizes too big for such a small, painfully puny tree. Garland had been wrapped (or an attempt had
been made to wrap garland) around the railing of the steps and at the foot of
the steps was a small sign that read, “Seasons Greetings” with a snow man,
carrot nose, scarf and curly little hat to boot. Additionally, as I stepped back to view the
carnage I saw the most awful wreath hanging from the handle of the storm door.
I was quite puzzled with
this predicament. I ventured back into
the house shaking my head. Tina was
attempting to explain why someone would do such a thing. Then she and Savannah directed my attention
my truck. I’m funny about my truck; now
I was alarmed.
Dashing through the
house, out into the garage and onto the apron where we park (because my garage
is a mess due in great part of a daughter and wife who have stuff scattered from
one end to the other), I saw it and laughed.
Hanging from the grill to the right side of the tag was an outdoor
Christmas bow. I laughed.
Still I had not ideal
who had done this. No, not one. While watching the Army/Navy game (really it
was a scrimmage game for Navy), as I watched other shows, ate supper brought by
the fire department, and took care of Granny, while Tina and the youth went for
their annual Christmas light trip to Montgomery; during this time I thought
about the decorations and who might have done such a thing. Why spend a bunch of money like that? What were they thinking? No calling card, no sign of who it might have
been? Why?
By the time it was bed
time, my head was hurting with the thoughts.
I decided to let it go; I know people fairly well and they would at some
point let the “cat out of the bag.”
The next morning, in the
middle of my sermon I said something about it, for some reason. I informed the congregation that I was
investigating the matter and would figure it out.
Honestly, it has been
effective. No, I am still not in the
mood to do a ton of Griswold type decorating, and neither am I interested in
getting the tubs of collectables out to dust, display and then take back down
sometime after the first of January.
Yet, I have learned something from my sneaky little friends.
One is that Christmas is
not about commercialization but all about Christ. Often we get too involved in the beauty and
magic of Christmas, with the Holley, lights and mistletoe and we fail to
remember that Jesus is the Reason for the Season. He came wrapped in a white piece of throw
away cloth, placed in a borrowed feed trough, and slept in someone else’s
stable his first night as God-man. There
were no lighted trees, no garland, and no egg nog on that first Christmas
night; because the light of the world had come to shine brighter than manmade
light ever could.
Secondly, Christmas is
about giving. Giving of ourselves;
giving to God; giving of what we have so someone else might enjoy the time of
the year; giving without thought of anything in return. Gifts given in this manner tend to be more
special, more festive, more lasting than something that cost more than you
make.
Lastly, Christmas joy
cannot be manufactured. It may not shine
on the outside; but it will change the darkness of the inside. Christmas joy comes from a relationship with
the Joy of Christmas, Jesus Christ. He
came to give life. It might be enhanced
by the sights and sounds of the season, but the season can at times be
unforgiven and sad. Yet, with Jesus in
the heart every day of the year, even in spite of the time of the year and
memories it brings to cause sadness and sorrow, the joy is still there. He never leaves us alone. He brings joy and happiness in different
ways.
Today I am appreciative
of the demonstration of love and compassion from two teenage boys who gave of
themselves and everything they had to brighten my life and make sure I had a
Christmas tree. They thought of someone
else. They wanted to bring joy and happiness
into my life. I am truly thankful for
their “Black-Ops” jester and their ability to keep secret their acts of
generosity. They are going to wonder how
I found them out, but that is something they may never know. But I will say that texting the preacher at
11:00 at night to see if he is in bed and not replying again, might give them
away.
Next week I will make a
big Merry Christmas greeting for all of you, but until then enjoy the season
because the greatest gift has already come.
It was delivered for you and me.
It is God in human flesh. Jesus
Christ, the Son of God (John 3:16)
By the way, Gavin and
John: I caught you! I love you guys more
than you know.
