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Friday, December 30, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Lazarus and the Christmas Tree Lights: No Squinting Required
Spoiler alert:
While this piece was written with the intent of providing a bit of inspiration to all of my Facebook friends, it touches on the Christmas season from the perspective of those who are suffering, sad, or alone. I have always believed that God has a particular affinity for the downtrodden, but I also believe that those with “cups that runneth over” are looked after with the same grace and mercy as those who are facing the holidays behind forced smiles and feigned laughter.
Whichever side of the fence our lot falls on this year, we can be sure that we have not escaped the eyes of our maker.
A couple of nights ago, Katherine and I were having a conversation after dinner. Unfortunately, we had gotten some bad news concerning a family member. Katherine was visibly distraught as she told me the details of what had happened. With a trembling lip ( and what seemed to be a hint of guilt), she remarked that, try as she might, she just couldn’t get into the Christmas spirit this year.
Her remarks got me to thinking about the holiday season in general, and, in particular, what exactly it means to have the Christmas spirit.
As I scanned through the archives of my own Christmases past, I had to admit that I have become accustomed to cultivating a special spirit during the month of December that is, for whatever reason, not as discernible during other times of celebration. There is a magic of sorts that seems to lay hold of us as we carouse the shopping districts and breathe in the aroma of freshly cut Fraser firs decorated with decades of memorable keepsakes. We feel a profound sense of well-being as we watch and re-watch old holiday movies that have become family traditions dating back to our own childhood. Perhaps the magic of Christmas can best be summed up for many of us in the spirit of these old TV segments. They have a way (if only for a moment) of making us feel like a kid again.
Isn't that what Christmas is about?
But what do we do if some of that childlike magic is missing from our Christmas season?
What if, despite our best efforts at keeping a positive attitude, those trusty old Christmas classics fall a little short in turning the portkey that opens the door to childlike wonder?
What if the lights don’t seem to sparkle quite as brightly as they did when we were squinting with our ten-year-old eyes in front of the Christmas tree?
And what if our trip to the department store in search of Lindor chocolates and other Christmas goodies feels a little bit stale and hollowed out?
If my memory serves me correctly, there have been a few holiday seasons in my life where that special spark of Christmas magic wouldn’t come.
For instance, there was the year my step-dad passed away.
Then there was the year my Grandma passed after a prolonged illness.
The terrorist attacks on New York and Washington D.C. took some of the luster out of the 2001 holiday celebration.
And there have, as the scriptures predicted, been “wars and rumors of wars”, with many of our nation’s servicemen and women leaving family members back in the States to gaze longingly at pictures of dads, moms, sons, and daughters who would not be joining the rest of the family in front of the Christmas tree.
Even in the midst of these and other challenges, many of us are able to overcome the forces of darkness and settle snugly into our blanket of holiday cheer. There are a few instances, however, when (try as we might), we are swallowed up in the enormity of circumstances beyond our control.
As I have thought about a few of the stumbling blocks we might face while trying to get in tune with the Christmas spirit, I have come to the conclusion that it is very easy to confuse our temporal "creature comforts" with the actual spirituality that attends the holiday season. Since, in many instances, the two events (temporal comforts and spirituality) converge in perfect rhythm with our scheduled activities, we can sometimes find ourselves feeling forgotten or lacking in faith if that magical chemistry won’t come together as we think it should.
We might even feel a bit guilty if our holiday smile isn't completely genuine.
For our family, the days leading up to this year's celebration of Jesus' birth have been replete with opposition and turmoil. We have witnessed suffering among friends and family on a scale we have never experienced. As a result, we have learned that if we truly love one another, it is impossible to avoid being deeply affected by what we see going on in the world around us. I make this statement acknowledging that my awareness of suffering has been quickened this year because of its close proximity to those with whom I am well-acquainted, and that many of the more "magical" Christmas seasons I have enjoyed have been spent in blissful ignorance of the suffering going on in the lives of those I didn't know as well. Regardless of the semantics of experiencing joy during the Christmas season, it has been one of those years when our family has had to fight to keep the magic in the holiday. From this, I have learned that the bleak moments in which we witness or experience untimely struggles can serve to bring us closer to God, and can actually accentuate the real meaning of why we observe a world-wide celebration each year.
I build much of my case from the account of Jesus’ inspired words in the New Testament:
The sermon on the mount serves as a blanket of comfort for those who are dealing with challenges at any season in life, but it has particular significance for those who are struggling at Christmastime. I am reminded of the Savior’s words to an ancient American prophet who was facing the extinction of his people because of their collective faith in God:
In the face of likely annihilation and subsequent extinction, the Savior’s advice to Nephi was simple but profound:
“Lift up your head, and be of good cheer.” he said, “for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given,"
But what was the sign?
It was light.....a light shining in the darkness of a troubled world.
The shepherds in their fields saw it.
The wise men saw it.
Nephi saw it.
We, too can see it, if we are looking up.
Perhaps, at one time or another, we have all wasted away a portion of our holiday season chasing the creature comforts we are accustomed to enjoying. In vain, we might even shut ourselves up in the confines of the living room with our eyes focused on the Christmas tree lights, thinking that if we can somehow squint hard enough and hold our mouth just the right way, the magic will come.
But, as Boyd K. Packer once said, “You cannot force spiritual things.”
To everything there is a season.
There will be years when our cup runneth over. There will be times when we are filled with a sense of peace and happiness beyond anything we are capable of experiencing in the confines of our natural emotions.
We will know intimately what Lehi meant when he said:
“Man is that he might have joy.”
But there are other times when all we will be able to do is groan inside, lament our losses, and hang on for dear life.
Mary, the sister of Lazarus did exactly that:
“Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.”
Jesus did not rebuke her for a lack of faith.
Instead, the scriptures tell us that He wept with her.
Then He performed a miracle.
And Lazarus lived again.
It was a taste of good things to come for all of us.
As we approach the eve of our Savior’s birth, I am grateful to feel His spirit attending our family....perhaps more so than usual.
Charles Dickens summed up the year in review for many of us:
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
While the worst of those times have somewhat subdued our desire for boisterous celebration this year, we nonetheless have reason to smile.
Just in the nick of time, our family abandoned the squinting-at-the-tree tradition and stepped out into the night for a breath of fresh air. As it always has at Christmastime, the special star shone bright and clear against the figurative backdrop of the black sky.
Somehow, that star seems to shine brightest when the night is at its darkest.
If you ask me, that's the real magic of the Christmas season.
For my friends who’s cup runneth over, I toast your good health and pray for another year of peace and prosperity.
For those who have suffered (and are continuing to suffer) this year, I repeat the words of the Master:
“Lift up your head and be of good cheer”
Step outside and try to look up.
If you listen carefully, the still, small voice will whisper words of peace to your heart this Christmas season:
You know the rest of the story.
Lazarous came forth.
In one way or another, so shall we.
Merry Christmas, Facebook friends.
As you look into the night sky, may you hear the echo of a baby's cry and bask in the afterglow of a star that will shine forever as a beacon to the wounded, the weary, and the pure in heart....no squinting required.
While this piece was written with the intent of providing a bit of inspiration to all of my Facebook friends, it touches on the Christmas season from the perspective of those who are suffering, sad, or alone. I have always believed that God has a particular affinity for the downtrodden, but I also believe that those with “cups that runneth over” are looked after with the same grace and mercy as those who are facing the holidays behind forced smiles and feigned laughter.
Whichever side of the fence our lot falls on this year, we can be sure that we have not escaped the eyes of our maker.
A couple of nights ago, Katherine and I were having a conversation after dinner. Unfortunately, we had gotten some bad news concerning a family member. Katherine was visibly distraught as she told me the details of what had happened. With a trembling lip ( and what seemed to be a hint of guilt), she remarked that, try as she might, she just couldn’t get into the Christmas spirit this year.
Her remarks got me to thinking about the holiday season in general, and, in particular, what exactly it means to have the Christmas spirit.
As I scanned through the archives of my own Christmases past, I had to admit that I have become accustomed to cultivating a special spirit during the month of December that is, for whatever reason, not as discernible during other times of celebration. There is a magic of sorts that seems to lay hold of us as we carouse the shopping districts and breathe in the aroma of freshly cut Fraser firs decorated with decades of memorable keepsakes. We feel a profound sense of well-being as we watch and re-watch old holiday movies that have become family traditions dating back to our own childhood. Perhaps the magic of Christmas can best be summed up for many of us in the spirit of these old TV segments. They have a way (if only for a moment) of making us feel like a kid again.
Isn't that what Christmas is about?
But what do we do if some of that childlike magic is missing from our Christmas season?
What if, despite our best efforts at keeping a positive attitude, those trusty old Christmas classics fall a little short in turning the portkey that opens the door to childlike wonder?
What if the lights don’t seem to sparkle quite as brightly as they did when we were squinting with our ten-year-old eyes in front of the Christmas tree?
And what if our trip to the department store in search of Lindor chocolates and other Christmas goodies feels a little bit stale and hollowed out?
If my memory serves me correctly, there have been a few holiday seasons in my life where that special spark of Christmas magic wouldn’t come.
For instance, there was the year my step-dad passed away.
Then there was the year my Grandma passed after a prolonged illness.
The terrorist attacks on New York and Washington D.C. took some of the luster out of the 2001 holiday celebration.
And there have, as the scriptures predicted, been “wars and rumors of wars”, with many of our nation’s servicemen and women leaving family members back in the States to gaze longingly at pictures of dads, moms, sons, and daughters who would not be joining the rest of the family in front of the Christmas tree.
Even in the midst of these and other challenges, many of us are able to overcome the forces of darkness and settle snugly into our blanket of holiday cheer. There are a few instances, however, when (try as we might), we are swallowed up in the enormity of circumstances beyond our control.
As I have thought about a few of the stumbling blocks we might face while trying to get in tune with the Christmas spirit, I have come to the conclusion that it is very easy to confuse our temporal "creature comforts" with the actual spirituality that attends the holiday season. Since, in many instances, the two events (temporal comforts and spirituality) converge in perfect rhythm with our scheduled activities, we can sometimes find ourselves feeling forgotten or lacking in faith if that magical chemistry won’t come together as we think it should.
We might even feel a bit guilty if our holiday smile isn't completely genuine.
For our family, the days leading up to this year's celebration of Jesus' birth have been replete with opposition and turmoil. We have witnessed suffering among friends and family on a scale we have never experienced. As a result, we have learned that if we truly love one another, it is impossible to avoid being deeply affected by what we see going on in the world around us. I make this statement acknowledging that my awareness of suffering has been quickened this year because of its close proximity to those with whom I am well-acquainted, and that many of the more "magical" Christmas seasons I have enjoyed have been spent in blissful ignorance of the suffering going on in the lives of those I didn't know as well. Regardless of the semantics of experiencing joy during the Christmas season, it has been one of those years when our family has had to fight to keep the magic in the holiday. From this, I have learned that the bleak moments in which we witness or experience untimely struggles can serve to bring us closer to God, and can actually accentuate the real meaning of why we observe a world-wide celebration each year.
I build much of my case from the account of Jesus’ inspired words in the New Testament:
“And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
The sermon on the mount serves as a blanket of comfort for those who are dealing with challenges at any season in life, but it has particular significance for those who are struggling at Christmastime. I am reminded of the Savior’s words to an ancient American prophet who was facing the extinction of his people because of their collective faith in God:
“And it came to pass that he (Nephi) went out and bowed himself down upon the earth, and cried mightily to his God in behalf of his people, yea, those who were about to be destroyed because of their faith in the tradition of their fathers.
And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lord all that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying:
Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfill all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.
In the face of likely annihilation and subsequent extinction, the Savior’s advice to Nephi was simple but profound:
“Lift up your head, and be of good cheer.” he said, “for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given,"
But what was the sign?
It was light.....a light shining in the darkness of a troubled world.
The shepherds in their fields saw it.
The wise men saw it.
Nephi saw it.
We, too can see it, if we are looking up.
Perhaps, at one time or another, we have all wasted away a portion of our holiday season chasing the creature comforts we are accustomed to enjoying. In vain, we might even shut ourselves up in the confines of the living room with our eyes focused on the Christmas tree lights, thinking that if we can somehow squint hard enough and hold our mouth just the right way, the magic will come.
But, as Boyd K. Packer once said, “You cannot force spiritual things.”
To everything there is a season.
There will be years when our cup runneth over. There will be times when we are filled with a sense of peace and happiness beyond anything we are capable of experiencing in the confines of our natural emotions.
We will know intimately what Lehi meant when he said:
“Man is that he might have joy.”
But there are other times when all we will be able to do is groan inside, lament our losses, and hang on for dear life.
Mary, the sister of Lazarus did exactly that:
“Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.”
Jesus did not rebuke her for a lack of faith.
Instead, the scriptures tell us that He wept with her.
Then He performed a miracle.
And Lazarus lived again.
It was a taste of good things to come for all of us.
As we approach the eve of our Savior’s birth, I am grateful to feel His spirit attending our family....perhaps more so than usual.
Charles Dickens summed up the year in review for many of us:
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
While the worst of those times have somewhat subdued our desire for boisterous celebration this year, we nonetheless have reason to smile.
Just in the nick of time, our family abandoned the squinting-at-the-tree tradition and stepped out into the night for a breath of fresh air. As it always has at Christmastime, the special star shone bright and clear against the figurative backdrop of the black sky.
Somehow, that star seems to shine brightest when the night is at its darkest.
If you ask me, that's the real magic of the Christmas season.
For my friends who’s cup runneth over, I toast your good health and pray for another year of peace and prosperity.
For those who have suffered (and are continuing to suffer) this year, I repeat the words of the Master:
“Lift up your head and be of good cheer”
Step outside and try to look up.
If you listen carefully, the still, small voice will whisper words of peace to your heart this Christmas season:
“Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?”
You know the rest of the story.
Lazarous came forth.
In one way or another, so shall we.
Merry Christmas, Facebook friends.
As you look into the night sky, may you hear the echo of a baby's cry and bask in the afterglow of a star that will shine forever as a beacon to the wounded, the weary, and the pure in heart....no squinting required.
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