Symbols of Christmas

I will begin by saying that Ronnie and I had a wonderful weekend of Christmas preparations. We made ALL KINDS of candy on Saturday afternoon, went to the parade in town, and enjoyed the general spirit of Christmas.

Last night, the children's drama team at church did a play called "Symbols of Christmas." It was written by a lady in our church and was WONDERFUL! I think she should have it published... but that is another story. The idea centered around the multiple symbols of Christmas. Santa, snowflakes, Rudolph and a bunch of elves all competed for the title for "National Symbol of Christmas." All were beaten though, when a humble couple walked out of the back of the church. The young man with a staff in his hands, the young lady walking slowly looking a bit nervous.... they got to the front and the judges for the competition heard the true story of Christmas. The reason for the season. Mary and Joseph then went and knelt by the manger - the angels came and the celebration of the birth of Christ started.

I just heard on the news - as I was typing this - that some athiests are looking for a symbol for Christmas that doesn;t represent Christ. The news reporter's response was "if you don't believe in anything, how do you have a symbol for nothing?" I think this is a sad day. First of all - can we remember how to spell CHRIST-mas? Christ is all over it. Second, if Christ had not been born, we wouldn't have a celebration! I know that Christ wasn't born in December, but it is a time to REMEMBER the birth of Christ, whether or not it is the EXACT day of his birth. There are so many other symbols of Christmas that may or may not have Biblical backgrounds in their origin. Most simply have a back story of people giving and helping people in need.

My family loves Christmas movies - I was introducing Ronnie to the George C. Scott version of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" last night. During the "ghost of Christmas present" portion of the story - Bob Cratchet has this to say.... "Tim gets so thoughtful while he is at church - He told me on the way home, that he hoped the people saw him... and that they would be reminded about the one who makes lame beggars walk, and blind men see."

As my friend Jeff posted on his blog - Linus has a very clear description to Charlie Brown of what Christmas is all about. - It starts like this... "And there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the fields keeping watch over their flocks 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 to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy to all people, for unto you is born this day in teh city of David - a Savior which is Christ the Lord...."

I want to use this Christmas season to think through how it must have felt to be different people in the time of the birth of my Lord.... So, stay with me throughout the season - as we review not only the symbols of Christmas, but also the people who were part of that original Christmas story.