Compiling God's Code

One of my first memories of Christmas is in my backyard as a child, as the sun faded behind the houses in the neighborhood. A boy of maybe 5 or 6 years old, leaning back in a swing seat with my feet high in the air and my head hanging back so that I could see the sky through the pecan trees still clinging to some leaves, I remember the happiness just waiting for Santa Claus to arrive some time during the night. I searched the sky for that glowing nose, knowing that it was out there, somewhere, leading Santa to his destinations. At that moment, I remember grasping the concept of the world being very large – so large – that Santa could be out in that purple night sky and I couldn’t see him.

As a child I knew Christmas was about Jesus’ birth and Santa Claus coming to my house. During the younger years, it was more about Santa, but as years passed, I grew to love the celebration of the birth of our Savior. Then becoming a parent meant happiness was experienced seeing the smiles on my children’s face as they celebrated Christmas. I have to admit, that I have always loved Christmas and the way people seemed to transform into more loving humans, capable of spreading the goodness and happiness that saturated the world, at least the one around me.

I often imagined Jesus walking amongst us; in fact, I had this vision of Him drifting down the suburban streets, where the houses were smashed together, as if there had once been room, but the homes piled up and someone at the end of the line kept pushing and cramming, making the houses fit, until now, they were huddled together. He loved Christmas just like we did, not because we celebrated His supposed birth date but because we transformed into decent and giving humans.  We cared about our neighbors.  We loved each other.  So what if children believed in a Santa and adults enjoyed decorating and shopping, His people were happy and loved, and that was all that mattered when this Earth life ended. I imagined Jesus’ only regret about Christmas was that it only lasted a month.

Now, today, or over the last few weeks, I’ve wondered where Christmas has gone. Granted, it doesn’t help that my kids live away from me, and that has definitely put a damper on the holidays, so maybe I am viewing the world behind jaded glasses, but while the situation does lend itself to sadness, I don’t think it is the cause of why I think Christmas isn’t the same anymore.

If Jesus was the reason for the season, then his message is also the reason, and that basically equates to loving God and loving our neighbors, like the Christmas I knew growing up or even 20 years ago. I imagine that if Jesus walked among us today, he would only see people pushing and cramming, fighting for the best deals or attached to our devices instead of to each other.

This will be a three- or four-part post because I don’t want you to have to read a book, so I will be breaking it up over these few days leading up to Christmas. I plan on covering three reasons on why Christmas has disappeared. They are all topics people have already penned and discussed, but I like giving the spirit within me a chance to say its part as well. Here are the points for the upcoming posts.

1. God has been removed from Christmas.
2. Christmas has become a marketing ploy.
3. We are no longer connected to each other directly.

God Bless you,

Wade