A Christmas Walk 

   I try to walk a couple of miles each morning to get my day started.  This time of year, I see many houses with their Christmas decorations on display. 

   Many are quite extensive, yards filled to overflowing with lights and decorations.  There are multiple Santas, reindeer, snowmen, penguins, and other decorations, most of them the inflatable variety.  There will be contests and the “Best Decorated” will be acknowledged by a yard sign and a mention in the community newspaper.  All of this is fine and I’m sure it brings happiness to many.

   The inflatable decorations are usually uninflated and lying flat on the ground during the day, waiting for the air pump to bring them back to life once it gets dark.  I sometimes think this is the way some celebrate Christmas; their remembrance of Christ is deflated and awaiting the Holy Spirit to bring it back to life.

   What I rarely see on my walks are examples of why we really celebrate Christmas.  Nativity scenes are in very short supply and few angels are in evidence.  If music is playing, it’s secular Christmas songs, not the noels of Christmas.  We have essentially removed the reason for Christmas, the birth of our Lord, from the celebration.

   Christmas is to be time of happiness and joy; people can celebrate in whatever way they wish.  But I can’t help but think that many miss out on the true joy of Christmas, the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Let the blessings of Christmas fill us.

Let us rejoice at Your birth.

Send Your Spirit upon us.

Give us the true Spirit of Christmas. 

Amen