When I was young one of my favorite holiday specials on television was "A Charlie Brown Christmas". This special first aired in 1965-the year I was born. In the special, Charlie Brown is fed up with the commercialization of Christmas and sets out to find its real meaning. I wonder what Charlie would think about the holiday season in 2012? His anger over pink aluminum Christmas trees drove him to pick out the tiny real tree that nobody else could love. Would he be disgusted by the air-powered blow-up Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer standing twelve feet tall? Would he say "Good Grief!!" when he saw the thousands of lights blinking in unison to a sexy version of "Santa Baby"? Would Linus still be able to stand on the stage and tell everyone what Christmas is really about or would he be filling out his list of the top five electronic devices available on Black Friday--woops! I mean the Black Friday Eve super sales on Thanksgiving night?!
Here are some questions you need to start asking yourself. What does your holiday season look like? Do you find yourself stressing about if you have enough money to buy what the kids want? Is your To Do list going to do you in? Do you find yourself being grouchy and yelling at others in the spirit of Christmas? Does the inside and outside of your house look like an explosion of Pinterest decorating ideas gone bad? Are you finding yourself kicking plastic reindeer across the yard when they don't light up? Are you and your spouse looking up counselor names and phone numbers after you put up the Christmas tree? Would you be willing to run over the back of someone's foot in Walmart just to get that $5 video while the store's intercom is playing "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas"? If you can answer yes to any of these questions or others you personally can come up with I would advise you to yell at the top of your lungs "Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?!"
And there were in the same
country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And,
lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round
about them: and they were sore afraid. And the
angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great
joy, which shall be to all people. For
unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the
Lord. And this
shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,
lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly
host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward
men.
Luke 2:8-14
(recited by Linus)
God's son in the form of a baby. A baby that would fulfill scripture and forever change the world. A baby that would one day do the will of his Father and take on the sins of all people. A baby that would one day be crucified and conquer death three days later. The one who would bridge the gap between a fallen world and God. The one that can give us everlasting life if only we believe.
So, this year as we head into the holiday season I have a prayer for all of us. A prayer that each one of us will slow down and remember those words recited by Linus to his good friend Charlie Brown. And that is what Christmas is all about, my friends.
