Ife el a little over whelmed. The Blonde and I work hard at running our calendar because if you don’t run your calendar, your calendar will run you. We just bought a house, so we are moving across town, our church just changed venues and we made three trips out of town in the last six days. On top of that somewhere in there we celebrated Thanksgiving, and I sense we are behind with Christmas.
Jennifer just popped around the corner and reminded me I have two doctor appointments this week. Who scheduled those? I’m not sure if I am old or in bad health? I’m going back to the dermatologist so he can dig around in the spot on my elbow and then to the cardiologists so he can tell me what I already know, which is I’m fine and I need to keep taking all of those pills. Things have to slow down, or I will need the cardiologists. Anyone else?
Speaking of Christmas - I have mixed feelings. Maybe I am a candidate for therapy? You know I am not a fan of the holidays, but I love celebrating the birth of Christ. As I drive through town is it just me or are the yard decorations getting bigger and more elaborate? I just wonder what Frosty, the Grinch and Rudolph have to do with Advent? Why is it the best we can do is misrepresent Jesus with a light bulb in a feed trough or with a blow-up nativity scene?
When we say God is good, that’s not just a cliche, it’s truth. It’s God’s nature to be good and while I’m busy and cynical about the holidays I am basking and even resting in the goodness of God. It’s like being in the eye of a hurricane and I have to say it’s not a bad place to be. There is calm in that goodness. There is peace and confidence (hope) in that sweet spot that everything is going to be alright. God is large and in charge, so we trust Him and enjoy the ride.
I’m a destination guy the journey is a means to an end for me. In other words, you have to travel to get to where you want to be but that doesn’t mean it’s fun. I’m changing because I know God wants me to learn and grow in the journey life offers and that’s a “God-Thing.” We call this sanctification, and we see it in Scripture. God is always in the process of sanding off the rough edges. Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion on the day of Jesus Christ.”
Getting back to Christmas. I shared Sunday that it always serves as a wakeup call for me. It’s easy to get off track and the Advent is a good reminder that Jesus needs to be front and center - that He is not an add on to life and He is not a grandpa in a rocking chair in Heaven dispensing the things we want in life randomly as we “pray.”
Do the people with Santa Claus in their front yard know this? Do they repent as they pack up the decorations and put them back in the garage? I’m asking for a friend.
He told me to tell you that.
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