Christmas Time...

"...and he will be called; Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6

There are so many wonderful images that appear during the Christmas season.
They evoke memories of childhood bliss... decorations, Bing Crosby, sneaking peeks at presents, the smell of the tree, the smells... oh the smells!
  
My mom made the most incredible Christmas treats... Sugar cookies with home made frosting, chocolate fudge that would just melt in your mouth... my stomach is growling just thinking about it...
I can recall those baking days, when the tendrils of intoxicating aroma would cascade down the hall from the kitchen and seemingly draw me through the air, like a floating cartoon image, toward the source!

The rapture and joy of the season would collide with youthful exuberance, as my sister and I would try and hold it together so we wouldn't get put on the "naughty list".
The anticipation would drive us stark raving mad.  Well...we probably drove my parents looney more than anything.

Kathy and I are experiencing some of those seasonal activities with our children; mostly the looney part... But seriously, we are trying to pass along the wonder and tradition of the season to our little cherubs in an attempt to preserve some of those memories from the past.
Don't get me wrong, our desire isn't just that the memories stay alive, but that in creating new traditions we don't lose the beauty and power of this season in the unbridled avarice that has become the "modern" American "holiday" celebration.

The hustle and bustle often overshadows the joy and wonder, as we rush from one thing to the next, stealing that which Christmas was intended to bring to our minds and hearts: Peace on earth and good will toward men.

One of my favorite memories, that still occurs from time to time, was when we would visit my grandparents house for Christmas.  After dinner, before we were allowed to tear into our presents, my grandpa would sit down in his chair, just opposite the fireplace and pick up his tattered old King James Bible.

He would turn to the book of Luke, chapter 2 and begin in that soft, feathery rasp of his; "and there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night..."
As he would read through the familiar story, it was as if we were transported to a different time and place.  It was a place full of mystery and ageless beauty, that would captivate our imaginations as we envisioned the stable and the animals, the shepherds and angels, Mary and Joseph and yes, the baby Jesus.

But the most powerful and amazing part of this timeless tradition wasn't in the reading of the words...  It was in the subtle change that was brought forth in our hearts as the simple story would unfold.  The jostling and wrestling, the volcanic energy of the little ones, the tension of old wounds unforgiven and offenses taken, would dissipate like so much mist under the warmth of the noonday sun.  
A palpable peace would come over us as we gave our attention, even if for just a moment, to that for which we do this thing called Christmas,
Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

It's funny to think, that even rational adults can get so tied up in this seasonal celebration, that we lose sight of the purpose and meaning at it's origin.
Jesus didn't come to bring us all the trappings of our constantly evolving interpretation of the holiday.
He came to bring us, I know it sounds simplistic and old fashioned... peace.
Jesus brought peace.  Peace for you and me, in our hearts and minds, peace between us and others, but most of all, peace between God and man.  
At the root of all of life's troubles, lies the longing for just that... Peace.
I hope peace is at the heart of your traditions and celebrations and
may it be yours this season and always.

Merry Christmas