a christmas thought

Faithchick blog post for December.

Sometimes it is easy to lose sight of real joy
amidst the glorious holiday cheer
and rapidly expanding Christmas card list.
We get wrapped up in wish lists and scheduling and 2 for 1 sales.
When really, the whole reason we are celebrating so heartily is because
we are no longer trying to navigate life and its problems by ourselves.
We are not living life without a purpose, without a hope.
When we peel back the layers of Christmas,
when we push past the 14 1/2 trips to the mall,
the kid's musicals, the parties and the eggnog,
when we peer past the needs for ipods, puffy jackets,
shimmery lip gloss and the wii with the cool bowling game,
we recognize what we really truly need for Christmas,
and for life in general, is to not be alone.
One night, long ago, far from here,
God broke through the heavens with an answer.
With a purpose. With a person. With himself. A baby.
Tiny, squalling, wrapped in cloth, lying in a feed trough.
His name is Christ the Lord. Emmanuel.
And like the angels, we can say....Glory to God in the Highest.
Peace on earth. Goodwill toward men. Because God is with us.
And it does not get any more joyful than that.