Tuesday, December 23, 2008

I'm fighting for Christmas this year

I don't know why it's been so hard to find the mood of the season for me. Maybe it's the stress of a new job. Maybe it just the stress of living this Northern VA life. Maybe it's the economy. Whatever it is it has been hard to feel like Christmas is coming.

Usually that is very easy for me. We come home from Thanksgiving and it gets cold and all of a sudden I'm just thrilled with the thought of the coming advent season. I love the dark afternoons and cold nights. I enjoy the crowded stores and lights in the streets. Mostly I enjoy taking the emotional journey of hoping, then believing then waiting for that blessed night when I can regard all the wonder of what God did for us. What he did for me.

But this year was just off. So now it's Christmas Eve eve. We are packing like crazy for the long drive south and I know by the time I can take a breath it will all be over.

What stinks is I really need Christmas this year. I need the sense that all is well. I need to feel that there is good news of great joy.

There's so much stress and pain in this world. Cholera in Zimbabwe, riots in Greece, slavery and oppression everywhere. And in my life I'm losing more battles than I'm winning.

I guess I need a Christmas miracle. We'll see what happens. I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection as I share in His sufferings. My sufferings are so mundane.

We need a little Christmas, right this very minute...