Jesus...who?

A headline I read yesterday said, in part, that Christmas is no longer a "religious" holiday. It has now become more a source of greed, of frustrations and of stress for many people. Jesus has been totally left out in the cold.

Jesus...who?

Don't believe me? On the internet news today, a woman was chastised by her homeowner's association, because she had displayed, in Christmas lights, on the rooftop of her home, a male sex organ. And she was proud of it.

Such. Utter. Blasphemy.

But some smiled, others thought it was outrageous, yet cute and went about their day.

In other commercials, it's all about buying the perfect gift...for oneself. Oh yes, we have skipped over others and are now all in for what makes the individual feel good. A new car. A new phone...TV...vacation!

"Is this what it has come to then? Was His arrival and subsequent dying on a Cross all in vain?
Pray...pray very much!"

Because if you are in it to win it, it had better be towards winning the ultimate prize; a one way trip to heaven via helping the poor, the down-trodden, feeding the hungry, caring for the ill and so on. Caring for #1--yourself, will earn you another ticket all right, only you won't appreciate the destination!
In the movie, "It's a Wonderful Life," George Bailey had dreams of going to Europe, of building skyscrapers and basically of "seeing the world!" His life over the years, however played out differently. He never got to see the world, instead his life was such that he always was left behind to take care of issues in his own hometown. In the end, he was frustrated by the weight of so many responsibilities, including his own uncle's constant forgetfulness that lead to a series of misunderstandings, that culminated in the town banker showing just how cruel and evil he could be, all the while watching George take the fall.

That part always gives my heart a start, that some people are so willing to allow greed to cloud their  judgment that they almost want to see others fail. They fully believe they are the superior ones, the invincible ones.

And in the end, George, after seeing what his life would have been like had he not be born, reacts differently. This time he is willing to be the fall guy because life, no matter what, has meaning. And he was rewarded for that in a huge way.
"No man is a failure who has friends."

Jimmy Stewart said that playing George Bailey was probably the most rewarding part he'd ever played.

Jesus said that He came so that others may have life...and have it abundantly. BUT--He also admonished that we are to look after others...not seek to store up riches for ourselves.The whole reason for the season isn't to see who can go into debt first or the longest. It isn't to see who can have bragging rights about the latest techie gadget. It sure isn't about having a house decorated in such a way that it offends others by its sheer obscenity!

It is about cherishing this solemn, yet joyful, dark, yet hopeful time when a child arrived to bring us the gift of hope. The gift of peace. The gift of love.

Those are the gifts we need to spread each and every day.

Are you with me?