Publishers
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2002
- Posts
- 1,736
> I don't know about you but I find that the Christmas season becomes one of reflection. Reflection of many things, Christmas seasons past, the preceding year, and reflection of the events that mean things to me as a Christian.
>
> I see faces, some smiling, some missing, some alone. There are these glimpses of moments, family dinner, stockings by the fire, children anticipating, carols around the piano, luminaries lining the driveway.
> Then there is the smells. Turkey, evergreen, pies cooling, the scent of candles, the odor of many fireplaces drifting across the neighborhood.
>
> I miss them all you know, my mother and father, my sisters faces when they were but young babies. There are my friends departed, and those from another time and place. There is no longer the anticipation of that morning. This Christmas, as it has been for years now, my joy will come from seeing the looks on others faces not mine. Still I miss my mom saying, "this one is for you son."
>
> Today, I tend to look back every year at this time. Thinking about how well things have gone or how disappointed I am in what has happened over the last twelve months. Perhaps that disappointment was like the Jews felt when Jesus came. They had hoped and anticipated their savior would be riding atop a giant white horse, clad in armour of steel, welding a golden sword to vanquish the Romans from their land. Here their savior was, not larger than life, but humble, and of the strength of quiet. His voice one of calm and reason. He does not destroy or vanquish, but heals and empathizes. I look and see the birth, not only of the son of God, but, that the birth of Christianity came quietly from a manger, not from some supernatural explosion. Can such incredible power come from such humble beginnings?
>
> Regardless of one's religious background or current persuasion, I do not think that anyone can deny the amazement of events that followed the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem that day. It changed the face of history to follow.
>
> This holiday season, I want to remember to give thanks. Thanks for the emotions that I feel. Thanks for the air we breathe, the land we inhabit, the seas we fish, the dreams we dream, the hope for tomorrow that motivates us forward. Let us remember the humility of someone who changed the course of human life.
>
> Sometime over the holiday, I hope that you will take a minute of your time and reflect with me. My Christmas list I share with you. I want the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the sad to feel joy. I want the sick to be healed, the old filled with the spirit of youth. I want hunger fed, nightmares replaced with dreams of flight, love to fill the void of hate.
> I would like anguish to be replaced with peace and the mad made sane. I want to share my hope with those who live in despair. I want war to end and peace to begin. I want this life to be the beginning not the end.
>
> Now I may not get everything I want on my list, but I know who to ask. And when I think of the minor event in history, the birth of but one small baby, and what it led to, I know that all things are possible. Now imagine what could happen if you asked with me. Now that would be a Chirstmas to reflect on forever.
>
> May you and yours have a wonderful and reflective Christmas.
>
>
> I see faces, some smiling, some missing, some alone. There are these glimpses of moments, family dinner, stockings by the fire, children anticipating, carols around the piano, luminaries lining the driveway.
> Then there is the smells. Turkey, evergreen, pies cooling, the scent of candles, the odor of many fireplaces drifting across the neighborhood.
>
> I miss them all you know, my mother and father, my sisters faces when they were but young babies. There are my friends departed, and those from another time and place. There is no longer the anticipation of that morning. This Christmas, as it has been for years now, my joy will come from seeing the looks on others faces not mine. Still I miss my mom saying, "this one is for you son."
>
> Today, I tend to look back every year at this time. Thinking about how well things have gone or how disappointed I am in what has happened over the last twelve months. Perhaps that disappointment was like the Jews felt when Jesus came. They had hoped and anticipated their savior would be riding atop a giant white horse, clad in armour of steel, welding a golden sword to vanquish the Romans from their land. Here their savior was, not larger than life, but humble, and of the strength of quiet. His voice one of calm and reason. He does not destroy or vanquish, but heals and empathizes. I look and see the birth, not only of the son of God, but, that the birth of Christianity came quietly from a manger, not from some supernatural explosion. Can such incredible power come from such humble beginnings?
>
> Regardless of one's religious background or current persuasion, I do not think that anyone can deny the amazement of events that followed the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem that day. It changed the face of history to follow.
>
> This holiday season, I want to remember to give thanks. Thanks for the emotions that I feel. Thanks for the air we breathe, the land we inhabit, the seas we fish, the dreams we dream, the hope for tomorrow that motivates us forward. Let us remember the humility of someone who changed the course of human life.
>
> Sometime over the holiday, I hope that you will take a minute of your time and reflect with me. My Christmas list I share with you. I want the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the sad to feel joy. I want the sick to be healed, the old filled with the spirit of youth. I want hunger fed, nightmares replaced with dreams of flight, love to fill the void of hate.
> I would like anguish to be replaced with peace and the mad made sane. I want to share my hope with those who live in despair. I want war to end and peace to begin. I want this life to be the beginning not the end.
>
> Now I may not get everything I want on my list, but I know who to ask. And when I think of the minor event in history, the birth of but one small baby, and what it led to, I know that all things are possible. Now imagine what could happen if you asked with me. Now that would be a Chirstmas to reflect on forever.
>
> May you and yours have a wonderful and reflective Christmas.
>
