The Christmas letdown

I'm not a "bah humbug" type of guy. I really do love Christmas. In fact, Christmas is my favorite time of the year. The lights, the parties, the gifts, the wonderful food, and of course the out of town family all make Christmas time truly enjoyable. Of all the trimmings around Christmas though, it's the anticipation that sets it apart from every other holiday. Do you know what I mean? That anticipation we all carry around with us during the month of December. We wonder how our spouse and kids will like their gifts. We're excited to see family that we haven't seen in a year or two. We hope that the Christmas program at church is good this year because your neighbors finally agreed to go to church with you.

I feel this anticipation every year, and you know what? I'm let down every time. I'm not saying everything usually goes wrong. It may, but you could make the greatest Christmas feast that they'll talk about for years to come. You could hear those words from your usually less than grateful children, "Mom and Dad, it's just what I wanted! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" You could even have 5 fun-filled days in a cramped house with more people than beds, and no major blow-ups. But when all is said and done, What are you left with?

Please don't think I'm trying to throw a wet blanket on your holiday season. In fact by the time you read this it will be after Christmas, which is why I think there is something deeper we have to investigate. Why this letdown? Why do we have this build up every year coming toward Christmas, and then the burning question afterwards, "Is that it?"

You see we have this tendancy as mankind to always look to fill our soul up with something. I search and strive to bring joy and hope to our lives, so we pour our time and energy into things like holidays, and recitals, and sporting events, and vacations, and work, and family, and sometimes even religion. But in the end we are left trying to cling onto the satisfaction we hoped that all of our activity would bring our life, and it slips through the fingers of our sould every time.

I've been doing a lot of reading and study in the book of John in the Bible. It's a fascinating book where Jesus talks a lot about what's real. In chapter 15 in the book of John, Jesus says something to this degree, "I've said these things that your joy would be complete." I picked up on that phrase and thought, "you mean Jesus is telling me how I can finally find joy, and not just partial joy, but joy all the time?" I searched and studied what Jesus had said previous to that phrase, and you know what I found? Something very simple, yet extremely profound.

I found that the letdown I experience so much in life doesn't have to happen. If I find my identity, not in what I do, but who I am in Jesus, then that's satisfying. If I understand how I'm loved by the God of this universe, and in turn show that love to others, that's where I'll find joy. I want to encourage you to read the words of Jesus in John 15. I hope that they penetrate your soul as they did to mine.

This year, I'm not anticipating the letdown. Whether all my Christmas expectations are met or not, this year there's something bigger and more eternal I'm anticipating.

walking a mile in another's shoes

For the past week I've dabbled in the domestic engineer business. For the lay person that means that I stayed home with my 3 children, all under the age of 5, while my wife flew across the country for a funeral. I have often made the mistake of saying that I'm the only one in the family that works. I wil never say that again. Usually when I would utter such nonsense about me being the only one who works, my wife would respond by either giving me a look that said, "you have know idea what you're talking about," or she would gently remind me that she works just as hard as I do except she doesn't get paid. Of course I would acknowledge the corrections, but I never completely realized how hard that JOB really was until I experienced it for myself. The cooking, the cleaning, the never ending loads of laundry, plus the constant arbitration between toddlers is more than enough to send me into early retirement. I hate to say this, but it's the hardest, most thankless job I've ever had. One thing that has changed though is the increased admiration and empathy I have for my wife and her job.

Through that experience I was reminded how self-centered we can tend to be. Maybe you are the type that believes that nobody has it worse than you. You have the hardest job, the toughest relationship, the worst kids, the ugliest house or the lousiest DNA. I believe we all have the tendancy to exagerate our circumstances whether good or bad. That's why I believe we all need to do a little bit better at listening more and talking less, and empathizing more and complaining less.

The Bible says in Philippians 2 that we should, "look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." The verses around this verse are talking about how to think and live more like Jesus. Of course Jesus was the greatest example of looking to others needs above His own. Walking in another man's shoes will allow your compassion for others to grow. It's easy to complain. I can always find something to complain about in my life, but to truly be a blessing to others I need to look at others' needs before my own.

Just something to think about....

Okay God, You've God my attention...now what?

Okay God, You have my attention. Now What?

Have you ever found yourself saying something to that affect? I know I have many times. We are routinely living our lives when all of a sudden a “bomb” goes off and, we have a ton more questions than answers about our life, our future, and even our God. It’s a different tragedy for all of us: you, or one of your loved ones was diagnosed with a terminal illness; your once profitable business seems to be more in the red than black; you just moved to a new area leaving behind your closest friends and all that is familiar; or your marriage is going down a road seems to be heading toward divorce. Does one of those situations sound familiar?

How we respond to such personal tribulations says a lot about whom we are and the direction of our life. If we choose to bury our head in the sand and just hope that everything will work out in the end, I guarantee we will not be happy with the results. I know when I’ve decided to go down that road in the past it leads to disillusionment and discouragement. I believe that there is a better way; one that will lead to peace and hope no matter what the misfortune.

The better way begins with an understanding that you and I are not the center of the world, but it is God. Most of us tend to see, or at least treat, God as an all-powerful cosmic butler. He is there to assist me, in order to make my life a whole lot easier. Tell me if you’ve ever found yourself saying this: “Hey God, I need a really close parking spot; It’s cold outside.” If our prayers to God are nothing more than trivial, selfish wants, then God is nothing more than a slot machine. A few prayers in the slot, pull the lever, and bingo, I’ve got my blessing.

The problem with treating God in that manner is that God never intends to play second fiddle to our dreams and expectations. He wants to be the object of our worship; the sole focus of our existence. God cannot be negotiated with. “Okay God, you can have my Sundays and Wednesdays, but I get the rest of the week.” God has a plan and it is not negotiable. Over and over in the pages we find that God does rescue people and help mankind with their problems, but He always says that He’s doing to show His glory.

If you’ve ever read the story of Job in the Bible, you might get a picture of what I’m talking about. Here is a guy who is the Bill Gates of the 21st century B.C., and in a matter of a few days loses his wealth, his health, and his family…everything gone. Things are so bad, his wife tells him to curse God and die, but how does Job respond. Here’s what he says, “I came into this world with nothing, and I will leave this world with nothing. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” And the next verse says that Job worshipped God. Wow. Do you think Job understood that life is all about God and not him?

Please don’t think I’m trying to say that going through trials and tribulations is easy. In fact it’s hard, very hard. But we must have faith in something bigger than ourselves. We must have faith in a God who according to Romans 8:28 says that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose. When we start seeing that God has a purpose and plan that are so much greater than ours, then we need to ask ourselves if we are living by His purpose and plan.

If God’s got your attention right now, choose faith. Choose hope. Allow God to write the story for your life He wants.