Stop.
Just stop for a moment.
Stop trying to press through. Stop trying to endure. Stop trying to follow the latest Covid updates or political drama. Stop trying to be a good citizen or a conscientious objector for a moment.
Just stop.
Stop and breathe. Stop and take a moment to live in the moment. Stop and sit in peace.
All around us is this great sense of foreboding blah, and it’s not just connected to an election or Covid; it’s everything. Everything is weird, everything is not comfortable, everything is less joyful and requires an intensity of thought just to carry-on ordinary events.
Christmas, the day we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is here; and yet everything around us seems less focused on joy – and more focused on what joy we are missing. At the heart of that anxiety is this sense of foreboding. A sense of fear and worry; a sense of trepidation.
We are becoming more and more disconnected.
We cannot smile at people because our faces are covered. We no longer can shake hands, hug, or kiss someone on the cheek. The simple joy of human contact has been taken away from us because fear and the belief that humans are disease ridden.
Many families will not gather this year to celebrate the joyous event of Christ’s birth. Many parents and grandparents will not see their adult children for the first time in years, perhaps ever. Perhaps never again.
Because of all this blah, simple things like putting up the Christmas tree, decorating, and displaying Christmas lights on the home all has become a chore. The Christmas cheer that you experienced in years past just seems dimmed and replaced with a blah.
If you can relate and find these words express what you are feeling first understand that you are not alone. Second, understand that there is nothing wrong with you. It is happening all over our nation. It is the result of the removal of human touch.
So how do we shake this feeling of blah?
How do we reconnect to the spirit of Christmas in our lives?
- Realize that you are on a journey. A journey that has been given to you by a loving God. A journey that He has promised to walk with you always as you travel this earth. A journey that He desires to be filled with hope and joy. Remind yourself of the kind of purposeful hope that would leave a throne to be born into a manger as a baby only to grow into a Man willing to lay down His everything for the wretchedness of humanity so that we would be wretched no more
- Second, give what you have received. Remember all the great gifts God has given you through other people. Now is the time to give back. Giving with purpose is the true spirit of human contact. The giving is not related to money or wealth; the giving is related to our humanity. Perhaps we give a smile. Perhaps we give a kind word. Perhaps we give a compliment, or perhaps we just give time to another. You could give a gift to another or perhaps send an email; or better yet write a letter to a dear friend or family member. Reach out and tell them they matter and express why their place in this life of yours is important. Remind them of your specific thankfulness, and connect to the purpose of why we endeavor in this thing we call life. The important thing is to give, and to do it without any other intent or purpose than to give what you have already received.
No political party or desperation for a sense of security can overwhelm the message of hope that God has provided through sending Jesus to come dwell with man. No effort of man or human disposition can surmount the greatest love of all. The message of Christ’s birth is bigger and greater than any legislative battle. “No power of hell, nor scheme of man” can come close to the purpose of God’s intent and love for you as a unique person qualified to receive that love.
Ephesians 2:10 NLT
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Stop
Wrap yourself in the blanket of His unconditional love.
Lay down the blah and experience the peace He provides.
Stop and listen to your heart. Break the bonds of the blah.
Blessings!
Pastor Duke
Pastor Duke Taber and his wife Sue pastor Mesquite Worship Center located at 140 Riverside Rd. Ste D. in the Sherwin Williams Building. You can join them Sunday’s at 10:00 AM and Wednesday’s at 7:00. Absolutely everyone is welcome and you can come as you are.
Mary Lou Butler says
Well said Pastor Duke. Amen. There is much joy in know the Lord and following Him no matter what comes our way. December is suppose to be a December to remember and January a month of justice. Then March is when we will celebrate great victories. I stand with you in the Name of Jesus and celebrate His birth, resurrection and soon coming again.
Rejoice, again I say rejoice.
Merry Christmas to you and yours. Next time I’m in Mesquite I would like to attend one of your services.
Sister in Christ,
Mary Lou Butler
Duke Taber says
Merry Christmas to you too Mary Lou. You would be more than welcome to come visit!