My keyboard still isn’t working. Apparently charging it was not the problem. ho hum…technology is not a strong point of mine and I’m not sure what to do about my keyboard. But we’ll pretend that I’m just as competent with the touchpad (even though it takes about twice as long). I’ve had a blog post stirring in my heart for a couple of days and it’s going to be shared today, keyboard or no.
When my mom and I were in Zionsville on Tues we went into the local bookshop. On the main table was a local children’s coloring book about the meaning of Christmas. A group of children ask multiple characters what Christmas is, where it comes from and where it goes. No one really knows and the children are quite discouraged by the time they pose these questions to the kindly police officer. But he has an answer for the children. Christmas, he tells them starts when they see the magic of a lit Christmas tree. As to where it goes, he points to each of them and tells them that Christmas goes into their heart. Aww…sweet! And with visions of sugared plums in my head, I put the book down and wondered off to the nature section. But I kept thinking about that book. And thinking. And I realized once again the power of children’s stories to distill truth into a heart.
Yes, Mr. Police officer, Christmas always begins with a tree. Trees inhabit a special place in the human psyche, people have sensed something spiritual about them for millennia. Even my baby nephew is entranced with the family’s lighted Christmas tree. Our human experience is tied intimately to trees. After all, it was over a tree that humanity lost paradise and broke relationship with God. At the very beginning of history, there was a tree, a silent witness to the choice to turn away from God. But there was another tree in that garden, the Tree of life, a silent witness to God’s choice to not turn from us, no matter the cost. And so at Christmas we celebrate the coming of God in flesh, God coming for His people – His fulfillment of the promise given in the aftermath of paradise lost. There would be another tree – and this time God Himself would hang on it as the fruit. With this tree and our Second Adam, paradise would be regained. And all who look on this tree and choose Him will have life.
For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! Romans 5:17
Yes Christmas begins with a tree and finds its home in our heart and life as we rejoice in a God who refuses to leave us alone.
blessings to you,
Sarah
anordinarymiracleday 