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| My doctor sure knows how to decorate his landscape for Christmas! We had to stop and gaze awhile. |
It's the magic of the night.
Enya, The Magic of the Night
Christmas Day (2012) is over. Many folks suffer effects from After-Christmas Blues, Post-Christmas Blahs, etc. But how can the thrill of Christmas that was felt just a few days ago have vanished so quickly?
The Thrill of Hope, A Weary World Rejoices
I recall lamenting my after-Christmas blues to a Christian friend more than 30 years ago and I've never forgotten his startling answer. "The thrill doesn't have to go away", he said, "For me, every day is like Christmas". I have contemplated the meaning of his statement occasionally over the years (usually right after Christmas), and to me it means this:
Because of what Christmas represents...God becoming human through the birth of Jesus...God can now reside in our hearts every day and every night! (1,2) We can carry within us continuously that "thrill of hope" mentioned in the song O Holy Night, that "Deeper Magic" referred to in The Chronicles of Narnia (C.S. Lewis).
Not that we will always FEEL that thrill, or that we will always be happy, but it can give us a genuine sense of peace...a peace that only true hope can bring. After all, Jesus was called the "Prince of Peace" (3)! The Good News is that this thrill, hope, and peace is available to anyone asks for it!
The Magic of the Night
I love this song by Enya, and even after Christmas Day it brings me joy to listen to it. If you haven't heard it, or if you have heard it and would like to listen again, I've posted it in the link below (if you can't see the link, click here: http://youtu.be/zp3eL3nRfSo). For some reason it won't play on mobile devices, as of this posting.
Question: What does my friend's comment about carrying Christmas with oneself every day mean to you?
Footnotes:
(1) Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16);
(2) so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith (Ephesians 3:17);
(3) For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
Dale- I really enjoyed the Enya song, I had never heard it before. I have been finding myself feeling like I am in a "slump" post-Christmas this year, so your message came at the perfect time. I am missing family, missing warm weather and sunlight, and feeling inadequate as it is time to evaluate the past year and set goals for the upcoming one. Your message brings a great perspective and reminder about the meaning of Christmas and the meaning of life. I hope that I can change my perspective and continue with a sense of peace. Thanks for sharing. -Sarah
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah, Thank you for your note! Fortunately the onus isn't all on us to change our perspectives or to bring peace solely through our own efforts. Jesus is in the business of transforming us and by simply asking him to come in, he will! Its a sweet surrender that can bring peace and the best perspective.
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