 | By now I am sure you have seen at least one news clip of the atrocities of Black Friday. Stories of fights, stabbings, and shootings seem to be a growing part of the American shopping season between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Sunday before Thanksgiving, my pastor talked about how Thanksgiving has turned into Thanks-getting. |
"Most Americans have shifted their focus from the birth of the Savior to rampant buying, entertaining, and a myriad of activities that steal our peace and stifle our joy."
When we forget the real reason to celebrate this time of year; the entrance of the eternal King of kings into time and space for our redemption, our focus turns onto temporary things and goes awry. It seems we have allowed the modern, post Christian culture to dictate how we spend our money, time, and energy during this busy season. Most Americans have shifted their focus from the birth of the Savior to rampant buying, entertaining, and a myriad of activities that steal our peace and stifle our joy. Even the blessed act of giving to others turns into a drudgery as we wrestle with the worries of who to buy for, what to get them, and how much we should spend on each recipient of our “good deeds”. Precious time is also stolen as people rush about hosting and attending the season's Christmas and New Year parties and social events.
"It would do us all a lot of good if we just stop and reflect on the goodness of God, and the glorious work that He performed in that manger."
Spending time with family and friends, and wanting to bless others is obviously not the issue. The problem is when we try to squeeze as much activity as possible into such a short span of time. Our focus inevitably gets blurred to the real meaning of this time of year. It would do us all a lot of good if we just stop and reflect on the goodness of God, and the glorious work that He performed in that manger. Try to take some time to go outside at night and imagine yourself in that pasture. Look at the stars and picture the glorious light of uncountable angels shredding the blackness as the birth of the Savior is announced to the world. As we step back from all of the rushing and planning and shopping, we can allow ourselves to be renewed to the wonder of the miracle that occurred in that stable so long ago.
I don’t expect you to cancel your party plans or to take your gifts back to the store, but please take time to stop, take a breath, and make sure that your attention is in the right place – on the fact that God Himself came to earth that night to rescue us from His wrath; including every worry and the various pressures that go along with it.
John Clark
I don’t expect you to cancel your party plans or to take your gifts back to the store, but please take time to stop, take a breath, and make sure that your attention is in the right place – on the fact that God Himself came to earth that night to rescue us from His wrath; including every worry and the various pressures that go along with it.
John Clark