It's the Christmas season, but hurry, it ends soon. All the bargains, all the treats, all the opportunities to watch your favorite holiday shows or travel to see your favorite light display, they soon will be gone. Hurry, the time is short.
In Branson Missouri there are theaters of every kind. One in particular does spectacular productions of a few Bible stories, and it being the season, their current production is "The Miracle of Christmas". Last year we took in this show, and it is a very traditional telling of the story of Christ birth, done in a spectacular musical style. It was enjoyable. This show starts early in the fall and is advertised everywhere.
The other day I heard a radio commercial for the show and the ending line was something like, "..get your tickets soon, The Miracle of Christmas ends December 31!". And it stuck me, how this advertisement may speak more truth than many Christians want to admit. Does the Miracle end as soon as Christmas is "over"?
I know that my own mailbox has been flooded with charitable pleas, but as soon as the last store closes on Christmas Eve, the red buckets will disappear and with them will go part of the miracle of human compassion.
I also know that due to the generosity of others some people will have their best meal of the year, and then it'll be back to mac & cheese and beans for the New Year. The Miracle of Christmas will end. Our fascination with lighted houses will turn into, "Hey, it's over! Move on" Already, people are saying the season can't get over too soon. Next season, please. In the retail world I live in that will be the diet season.
But back to the Miracle of Christmas, the miracle does not have an expiration date, and continues, but only if we allow the Miracle to live in us. Christ in us is the miracle, and Christ doesn't have a limit of a 30 day deal for feeding the poor or helping those who are without work or who are grieving. It's not just a December offer, its an all the time, everytime, anytime offer.
I guess I wrote this to remind myself and perhaps you also,that as we take down the tree, eat the last of the leftovers and wonder if anyone will know about the returned or re-gifted gift, that this is not the end.
The Miracle of Christmas does NOT end at 12 midnight December 25, it's only the beginning. In the Church year, this is the new year, Episode I, if you will of the Miracle.
Peace my Friends.
