Dec. 24, 2008
The Twelfth Day of Christmas
“It’s Christmas night.
The midnight has chimed and I should be asleep, but I’m awake. I’m kept awake by one stunning thought. The world was different this week. It was temporarily transformed.
The magical dust of Christmas glittered on the cheeks of humanity ever so briefly, reminding us of what is worth having and what we were intended to be. We forgot our compulsion with winning, wooing, and warring. We put away our ladders and ledgers, we hung up our stopwatches and weapons. We stepped off our racetracks and roller coasters and looked outward toward the star of Bethlehem.
It’s the season to be jolly because, more than at any other time, we think of him. More than in any other season, his name is on our lips.
And the result? For a few precious hours our heavenly yearnings intermesh and we become a chorus. A ragtag chorus of longshoremen, Boston lawyers, illegal immigrants, housewives and a thousand other peculiar persons who are banking that Bethlehem’s mystery is in reality, a reality. ‘Come and behold him’ we sing, stirring even the sleepiest of shepherds and pointing them to the Christ-child.
For a few precious hours, he is beheld. Christ the Lord. Those who pass the year without seeing him, suddenly see him. People who have been accustomed to using his name in vain, pause to use it in praise. Eyes, now free of the blinders of self, marvel at his majesty.
All of a sudden he’s everywhere.
In the grin of the policeman as he drives the paddy wagon full of presents to the orphanage.
In the twinkle in the eyes of the Taiwanese waiter as he tells of his upcoming Christmas trip to see his children.
In the emotion of the father who is too thankful to finish the dinner table prayer.
He’s in the tears of a mother as she welcomes home her son from overseas.
He’s in the heart of the man who spent Christmas morning on skid row giving away cold baloney sandwiches and warm wishes.
And he’s in the solemn silence of the crowd of shopping mall shoppers as the elementary school chorus sings ‘Away in a Manger’.
Emmanuel. He is with us. God came near.
Its Christmas night. In a few hours, the cleanup will begin---lights will come down, trees will be thrown out. Size 36 will be exchanged for size 40, eggnog will be on sale for half price. Soon life will be normal again, December’s generosity will become January’s payments and the magic will begin to fade.
But for the moment, the magic is still in the air. Maybe that’s why I’m still awake. I want to savor the spirit just a bit more. I want to pray that those who beheld him today will look for him again next August. And I can’t help but linger on one fanciful thought: If he can do so much with such timid prayers lamely offered in December, how much more could he do if we thought of him every day?”
Comments
Dec. 27, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anna93
Hello dear girl! :)
How was your Christmas??? Is it warm in your neck of the woods like it is Ohio-the-land-if-mixed-up-weather?
How've you been this holiday? Marvelous, I'm sure your answer will be. ;)
Dec. 29, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anna93
Yes, it was actually in the 60's a few days ago. Yesterday and today, though, it was chilly, yet beautiful with lots of heavenly sunshine! ;)
Yep, I knew you were doing marvelous. . . boy, am I quite the prophetess. :) :lol:
Dec. 30, 2008 - <em>Untitled Comment</em>
Posted by Anna93
. . .I bet you like that fluffy raspberry stuff too. ;)
Did you get my mailing?
So tell me dear, what do you do on a definite daily basis? Are you always pretty busy? - what keeps you occupied? How do you spend your free time? - let me guess (again ;) writing non stop? Conjuring story lines. . .
Alright, and how are guys celebrating the new year? :)
Michaela and I were up last night with mom watching (and jumping into) the LWP party. ;) What fun! I wish so badly I didn't have to wait till I graduate to join HSA.
That snowball fight was interesting too. :)
Boy, are we home schoolers hysterical. We were chuckling left and right at the non-sensical comments those HSA folks were making during the "party". A blast. Even if I'm not posting, you can't pull yourself away when LWP is hopping. :D
Edited by Anna93 on Dec. 30, 2008 at 7:06 PM
