2021 Worship Guide

Page 16 2021 Worship Guide LINCOLN DAILY NEWS December 1, 2021 I spent the fall making pallet wood Christmas trees for yard decorations. Fake trees in other words. Some short. Some tall. I have to admit I’m pretty proud of them. It was a lot of work in breaking down old pallets, but the satisfaction of the project done was good for me. And then we decided to wrap some empty boxes to also use as home decorations. Now, imagine two small grandkids coming over and already seeing Christmas trees and gifts. It was still pre-Thanksgiving on the calendar but just one glimpse of trees and wrapped presents sent those little hearts a swirling. “Is it Christmas time?” my grandson asked with twinkles in his eyes and ravenous desire to tear into those wrapped boxes. “No, not yet, but soon,” I chuckled. But then a pause. Where did that joy for Christmas go in me? Christmas used to feel more innocent. Maybe it was my youthfulness. Maybe it was my life inexperience. Maybe it was that I just hadn’t lived through enough pain and struggle and heartache yet. The world has a way of sucking the joy out of everything, especially holidays. But I remember I used to be more excited for Christmas. Are those days gone now that I’m an adult? Am I too mature for a Christmas spirit? Have I witnessed too much disappointment to be enamored by twinkling lights and gift wrapped boxes and children dreaming of the perfect present? I hope not! What’s the answer? Back to those empty boxed Christmas presents. They are just decorations. But one powerful metaphor: We all know someone who is just like those boxes. People who are well-wrapped on the outside but nothing inside. People who go through this world focused more on the wrapping than who they are inwardly. Any chance I allowed that to be me? I fear it might. Longing to be filled CONTINUE