The most wonderful time of the year...

So yesterday evening I'm waiting for my friend Christy to meet me outside of the store where I'd planned to finalize all my Christmas shopping. Because I sit on my cutie patootie all the live-long day, I decided to walk from one end of the building to another. There was a jolly little guy manning the Salvation Army bucket at the store's exit. And although his robust "Ho, ho, ho"s seemed slightly odd, they were also kind of cute.

When one couple exited, he wished them a merry "Happy Holidays!" As they walked off, the woman's remark was, "It's Christmas. It's not happy for the parents."

That struck me as so tragic and sad. And I thought of how many households are populated by stressed-out, unhappy parents this time of year. What are those parents teaching their kids about the meaning of Christmas? What kind of associations will they have? How many parents and adults have lost the joy of Christmas in the frantic scramble to "please" their kids, or their holiday guests, or their extended families?

We are totally missing the point.

I thought about how I'm complaining and frustrated about buying gifts this year, feeling the need to "perform"---to get everyone something and to get them a "just-so" something. I mean isn't that what Christmas is about? Giving the perfect gift so you can bring joy to someone else? Maybe not, but that's what tends to drive me. And it's exhausting. And not very happy.

And it's totally missing the point.

May our hearts be stilled and recentered---even now. May we be awestruck and joyful at the thought of the Greatest Gift of God-come-down and the multitude of undeserved blessings we enjoy by God's grace, so that we're experiencing the real meaning of Christmas. And modeling it too.

Lil' ol' me...

Here's my WeeMee:



And here's a little something both my WeeMee and my RealMee share. Love it or hate it, I am nothing if not a "challenger":

Your Dominant Thinking Style: Exploring

You thrive on the unknown and unpredictable. Novelty is your middle name. You are a challenger. You tend to challenge common assumptions and beliefs. An expert inventor and problem solver, you approach everything from new angles. You show people how to question their models of the world.

What's Your Thinking Style?

It's that time again...

You know, I realized yesterday that Christmas is upon us...and I have not done a lot of Christmasy things this year. Sure, I (finally) decorated my cozy cottage and have tried to remember to plug in the Christmas tree every evening whether I'm going to be home or not so that the brilliant lights can be enjoyed by all---inside or out. And we've been singing (alt-rock arrangements) of Christmas carols at church for the past couple of weeks. And I've been playing some Christmas music in the car, doing a little (not enough) shopping...

But my heart has not been experiencing Christmas amidst the hustle and bustle of the year's ending. I'm encouraged and reminded during our great Sunday sermons but, during the week, I'm not experiencing Advent---remembering and celebrating the monumental event that this season should be all about. God made man. Peace made actually possible---between God and man, and among men. The erradication of sin and death set in motion. A Savior come to heal, restore, rescue, redeem and transform. A Savior come to save me from myself.

In all honesty, I was going to post a little paragraph about Christmas and then move on to post a quiz. But this is way more important for me to do, for myself if for no one else! So meditate with me on these things (from John 1, Isaiah 9 and Philippians 2):

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

...Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God---children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

May the peace of Christmas be made real in your heart this very day.

All you need to know...

Some people started this little game... And now it's my turn:

Six Weird Things About Me

1. I have a kind of phobia of deep-sea things---like, looking in a book of pictures of the depths of the ocean. Now, mind you, I love to swim and I love the beach. But I do NOT really like looking at pictures of underwater wonders. I can do it. Because I'm not a TOTAL wuss. But I don't like it. And I don't like any water creatures touching me when I'm in the water. Just ask my friend Dave about our snorkeling experience at Discovery Cove. He's lucky he still has both arms...

2. When I am relaxing, or going to sleep at night, I rub my feet together in a rhythmic fashion. It could be considered kind of cute. Right?

3. I think cabbage is delicious. In many forms, including boiled.

4. My other strange phobia has to do with museums. I like them, but I do NOT like being surround by life-like exhibits (like wax figures, or taxidermied creatures) on all sides (like in a big open room with exhibits all around you, or a hallway-type setup where you have things behind glass on both sides of you). It very much gives me the willies. So I have to hold on to someone.

5. According to my colleague (when asked what is something weird about me), I talk to myself. Out loud. When I asked, "Really?" she rolled her eyes and said, "I have to ask you so much if you're talking to me or not!" Um, since there ARE only two of us in the office...

6. Very few things gross me out or embarrass me. At least I think so.

Those of you who know me---whether for real or virtually---can add your two bits (since I know you will anyway, Gilles). I couldn't think of anything else. Because I'm so NORMAL...

Where have all the cowboys gone...?

Remember that song? It was weird.

Now I know it's the holiday season and there is shopping to be done, parties to attend, semester finals to be completed...but does that really mean we have no time for each other any more? It makes me sad not to have any comments on the ol' bloggeroo...

On another note:
Last night at our community group we were talking about Matthew 13 (the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl) and how we can know intellectually that there is nothing more valuable than the kingdom of God on earth (living so that God's will is done joyfully and without hesitation) and still completely take our relationship with Christ (who enables us to be citizens of that kingdom) for granted. One of the girls was comparing developing intimacy with Christ to her relationship with her husband, saying how they don't have much of a relationship when they're not spending time with each other and being intentional about doing that in their day-to-day life.

For the first time, I was struck by what a blessing it is that our God is not tangible. Usually we complain that it's so hard to have a relationship with someone you can't touch, see, feel, talk with face-to-face. But I was awestruck by the beauty of the reality that---because he is intangible, because of the nature of our relationship---Christ is ALWAYS with us, wherever we are. There's no need to plan dates, or carve out time during the day, or go to a particular place to find and be with him. He is with us always. We have constant and unlimited access to him in order to develop a relationship. Greater intimacy with God isn't about having a quiet time and spending an hour alone with him every day (although that's an important instrument and discipline of grace), it's about cultivating the mentality that you are one, communing with him throughout the day, sharing your moment-by-moment life with him. Isn't that what we want---what we long for and crave---in our human relationships? That kind of constant intimacy and companionship is ONLY possible in Christ because we are NEVER separated from him!

Wow.