12/23/2025
Hope for the folidays
Folly is in the heart of anyone who sets their joy and hope on the temporal things of this life. The trap of this season is that.
It gives hope in things that don't last and are of no future guarantee to change or return.
Things like health, happy family joining together, and meaningful events we are included in with others that love us and want to share gifts of themselves and the things they think we would enjoy or like to have are all temporary. They fail us and disappear.
These 'holiday' memories and hopes can be dashed and when they are, then you see the folly of them more clearly.
You see the difference between them and all the distractions about them and the true and admirable in them that are of a more eternal joy. Even as I face another year of grieving the holidays, as my family no longer celebrates one another or the season together, I am thankful for the joy that points to the future celebrations and true gifts; gifts that when given will not be taken away or fade.
We will eat together at a table whose head seat is Jesus.
His love and gifts and rewards are of magic beyond my imagination. We will recognize those seated with us at the table and the exchange and surprises between us and the conversation as we are served together in that feast will be both the final Christmas dinner and the eternal marriage supper of the Lamb. Eaten in the banquet hall of the Lion of the tribe of Judah who will assign us each our place in His eternal kingdom.
To find your place of hope in this foliday season, place Him, the Christ at its center and share it with Him in thankfulness of spirit and prayerfulness of celebration. Ask him to assign others of community and 'holy' family to help you. Here is my memory of a few lines from a Christmas song ! wrote many years ago when an angry young man, The Final XMas Dinner
Was he Jesus X, who was born around XMas?
Is he your big guilt fix, or receiving your wish list?
Did he float up to heaven, at the celestial North Pole?
Where he answers all your wants while saves your soul?
Like he was seated at the right hand, in the big red slay, To then ride across Earth's heavens in a single holiday.
WE don't understand now, in the midst of this change, But at the final Christmas Dinner it all will be explained.
I celebrate you Jesus and your season of stories about your birth. Please lead me and guide me into plans of family and community and celebration.