Chuk came back from the bank next door yesterday and reported that one of the tellers is not in the Christmas spirit this year. “That’s sad,” I said. “We can’t have that.”
I wondered what it was that robbed her of the childlike enthusiasm for this wonderful time of the year. Whatever it is it I’m sure that she has either never seen the glory of Christ or she has lost sight of it.
Maybe she is without the Christmas spirit because she never really understood what Christmas was about. Nostalgia can only carry you so far, especially since for most of us our sweetest memories are tempered by pain, disappointments, and misunderstandings. If the young lady at the bank has no spiritual life within her she would not have any reason to really joy in Christ or in the celebration of his birth. She would have no real heart-fellowship with Christ if he doesn’t live within her.
There are no decorations that can satisfy our hunger for the beauty of Christ. No Christmas lights, no matter how glorious can rival the light of his glory. Christmas carols were created for a higher purpose than to serve as a soundtrack for beer and toy commercials. If there is any cook or baker in you Christmas will bring out the best of it, but there is no Christmas confection or recipe that can ever feed the deepest hunger of the human soul.
What a sad thing to sit outside the circle of light Christmas throws on the world and feel no joy or warmth. It is the greatest of tragedies to be without Christ altogether at Christmas time.
“I wonder if she knows the Lord, Chuk?”
“I don’t know,” he said.
Lately Chuk has been making his own scented candles.
“You should go over with one of your candles and tell her what Christmas is all about, Chuk.”
This afternoon he walked over gave her one of his candles and gave her a nice little Bible with a marker in Luke two. He said, “I brought this because I felt bad the other day when you told me you weren’t in the Christmas spirit. If you start where I put the ribbon you will read the story of Jesus birth. If you keep reading you will read all about his life and why he came.”
She received the gifts with enthusiasm and said, “Thanks, I’m excited to read it.”
He came back with the happy report. It was a good mission well-executed, important and timely. It’s good he went when he did. There are only twelve days to Christmas and if her Christmas spirit hasn’t arrived yet, it is a critical matter. She has two little children and they need to know who Jesus is.
Ken Pierpont
Riverfront Character Inn
Flint, Michigan
December 13, 2005
