DRAPER'S PAPER ROUTE

Merry Christmas

God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

            That puts it all in perspective, doesn’t it?   Don’t let anything overwhelm you.  Rest happily.  We have been rescued from the power of darkness.  The Messiah was born on this day.  Tidings of comfort and joy!

            Stef and I are visiting my parents in the Ozarks for Christmas.  That song has been coming to me over and over again.  “O tidings of comfort and joy!”  The world does not seem to be merrily at rest, but we are given that peace all the same.   

The day after we got here, Stef and I tromped into the woods, found a scraggly cedar tree, cut it down and dragged it back to my parent’s house.  Neither of us had ever done that before.  It was surprisingly fun.  I felt rested and merry.

            The experience of getting the Christmas tree and the comfort of looking at it every day, contrast the insult of shoppers shopping, drivers honking, and the incessant renditions of Jingle Bells blaring out upon a frenzied world.  The intrusions of the whole season’s assault on serenity can make me feel something like Charlie Brown, yelling “Can anyone tell me what Christmas is all about?”  

            But then there is always Linus’ response – always!

            “Sure, Charlie Brown.  I can tell you what Christmas is all about.  Lights please.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.  But the Angel said unto them, ‘Fear not!  For behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the City of David, a savior, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you. Ye shall find the bade wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with them a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men!’

            That’s what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.”

            I am feeling rested and merry today.  Somehow, the “let nothing you dismay” is sinking in, soaking down into my bones, and hopefully coming out to everyone around me.  It is a gift, after all. 

            Merry Christmas.  God bless us every one.