“And God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness... God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.” (Genesis 1:4, 1:31 NIV)
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work…”
(Philippians 1:6 NLT)
It’s the first day of December and my daughter and I are coming back from an errand. There’s a few ways to get everywhere around this slower-paced edge of our city, and I’m often given to just take the path of least resistance, basing my turns on the green lights I get. As we make our way through one green-lit turning lane in particular, we’re treated with a view to the right of a beautiful Christmas tree lot, one that has been there every season since we first made the move from Tennessee to Greensboro. There’s always been something comforting about it to me, the way it is laid out, warm and inviting, large, trees arranged evenly and the extra details like higher quality buckets, ground cloths and (wait...WHO AM I TURNING INTO and will I end up on a Progressive Insurance commercial for this? “High quality buckets”? Geez!!!) The point is - it’s beautiful and I’m thankful to see it each year.
As we get further down the street and pass home after home of houses already lit up and streets with flashing glows coming from somewhere in their distance, we drive by one family who has hooved their tree from the lot and through the neighborhood in a red Radio Flyer, a young kid with winter hat in tow, both parents holding to-go coffees with neat lids. (Yes that detail probably means my eyes should have been on the road.) They seem pretty stoked and you could tell they are having fun. Taking in this unfolding scene over the half mile from Tree Lot to Puffer Jacket Family felt akin to something straight out of Hallmark or the kind of thing captured in a snow globe, but there was honestly something very simple and real about it. Here, in this moment, the joy of family is being experienced and undoubtedly a memory is being made. Surely for them, but if nothing else, for me and my daughter. Because we’re viewing the wonder inherent in a young family with a young child experiencing something unique to this time of year, beginning a season that should have so many other meaningful and exciting things for them to look forward to.
That’s kind of the place many of us find ourselves in at some point in November or December. There’s some moment that inspires you, something special you experience or notice, and the anticipation of what all the rest of the season could mean or what could happen comes excitingly to the forefront.
Before our minds go to WHAT it will take for things to happen. To the stress of what “needs” to be finished by the end of the year so we can enjoy it. To any commitments that we made that now seem overwhelming. Fill in the blank, getting from your first inspiration of the season to the fulfilling times you hope for - and the rest or strength you might hope to draw from them for later - can be a tricky, messy journey. For some of us at least. It occurred to me years ago I couldn’t be the only one to feel this, and I set out to find the words to help navigate it.
I like the word “Navigate” because recently I found myself at another tree farm attempting to do just that: walk and turn through countless LIVING evergreens, looking for “the one” to speak to me. It was our annual tradition up into the mountains of Western Carolina, a family favorite of the season. We hayride across a sprawling farm of trees, play hide and seek, choose the tree, do the hot cocoa, the cookies, a family selfie, the whole thing. And the mission I set out on each year is to find the perfect tree, complete with the post-production sun ray glory the Griswald family found miles into the snow. In the section we are dropped at, the trees are planted in rows but have thinned out over the years to create new paths while those staying put grow another season taller and more beautiful. There’s a kind of randomness to this pattern that makes every turn a new scene from a new angle. As I’m marching alongside my wife and daughter with our “flag stick” (you waive this for the actual lumberjacks and pretend later like you cut the tree yourself) we take note of the ones that seem a great fit, knowing we can come back to them because we are going to find “IT” and I’m not going to settle. Eventually I’m by myself and in the quiet but chilly breeze a kind of panic starts to hit me: these are ALL the same. Whatever it is I’m looking to happen is not, I don’t see it, and when I try to revisit what I thought was “almost perfect,” I cannot nail down which ones exactly those were, or where. My girls are pointing out some they love, and I can only see problems in all of them. I’m shocked at myself and think “why do I struggle so much with indecision!” Here on this beautiful property and in this beautiful moment, it’s still so easy for me to lose the good in pursuit of the absolute ideal.
When we settled on one, ultimately it was because my daughter said “I love this one and want to invite it to have hot chocolate and cookies with me”. Knowing that meant HER ideal had been reached, there was no other confirmation needed, and though I was reluctant for several reasons thankfully both her and my wife saw something in it. Right here behind me as I type it’s probably the most beautiful one we’ve ever had in our living room! Super hard to see before adding the ornaments, lights and such to lay the branches down and fill it out. But see, my wife knew all the way back at the farm. SHE sells countless many artificial trees from her store and takes regular jobs decorating others trees this time of year. She knew the potential. When we let go of our forced ideals of “perfection” we find GOOD options that wind up being perfect for our situation after all, provided we understand how to take what’s before us in stride and have some vision toward the beauty that can come from it.
At the end of the day this season truly has the power to be one of the most encouraging, inspiring and strengthening times of year. It’s not fair to call it “mere sentiment,” and it’s more than stuff - there’s life that is shared all around us during this time and I want to celebrate and tap into that. But I also recognize that there’s a massive collision of our expectations, our memories, our time limitations, circumstantial issues both known and unexpected, with the hopes, dreams, love and brotherhood that are awakened in us during this time. Because of that a mere “perfect” Christmas is not possible, and honestly whatever that is is probably not what’s best for us. But a “GOOD” Christmas is not only possible, but always in front of us, with all the flaws and dropped balls, broken ornaments and shorted out lights that come with our days and life, even in December. Because “good” is just that, “GOOD,” a word God used to describe his finished creation, the works he Himself had finished in Genesis and is indeed his very nature* . I’ve needed SO much help, as a deep feeler and wide dreamer, to navigate this time personally and find a sense of peace and lasting joy in walking through it. Expectations and anticipation are BEAUTIFUL things, but balancing those with enjoying the altered way they seem to come together is a challenge for many.
But it’s a challenge that is SO worth taking on. Because, like the section we explored at the farm, each turn and angle can offer a completely different view, new beautiful perspectives, so many things to appreciate if we’ll allow ourselves to see. Every year is another step in this work in progress for me. I’ve seen the value in it and my aim for my posts and entries is to offer you a guide through this journey as well.
Think about it: the alternative approaches are
“I’m going to MAKE my/our Christmas perfect” (what a weight to bear, or heartache if you feel that you fail)
“Christmas is stupid I’m done with it” (phew what we are missing out on with this one )
“Christmas isn’t 'spiritual enough', it’s too soft for my faith” (not only are you wrong about it ONLY being soft, but you too are missing out. You must understand what it means to “desire mercy not sacrifice” my friend, because "His kindness leads us to repentance” and you may need to show some of that kindness to yourself! **)
“Christmas is just for kids anyway, I don’t care what I get out of the season” (but imagine the lasting confidence and joy our kids may buy into for their lives if they see us taking these things to heart ourselves?)
And “Let me just get the stuff I want and I’ll be good” (there are probably any of a dozen Christmas movies you could watch that should remedy this really quick ;)...get the popcorn and the tissues!)
Christmas is meant to be experienced and enjoyed, not just for children, but for anyone. Choosing to lean into how it can be fulfilling for you is bold but needed.
Let’s walk this forest of evergreens together and see how we can encourage each other in each of the turns through it!
_________________
Notes:
*Gen 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31 - occurrences where God calls something "good" after creating it. 1 Timothy 4:14 reinforces this in New Testament. Many places in the bible emphasize God's character as "Good," such as ancient Israel's songbook, the Psalms. Psalm 34:8 "taste and see that the Lord is good," and Psalm 145:9 "The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made," are just two examples!
** Matthew 9:13 NLT, Romans 2:4
Further Related Encouragement: Romans 8:28, Galatians 5:22, Psalm 145
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