Remembering…

Amnesia (ām-nē‘zhə) n. “The loss or impairment of memory.” (Stedman’s Medical Dictionary)

One of my favourite programs every December is the one where they compile all of the news highlights of the past year. I wonder if it’s because of my propensity to keep forgetting them, always being caught up in the ‘tyranny of the urgent’. So, I find myself saying out loud throughout the program, “oh, I remember that”, and am usually struck by how far from my immediate thoughts’ that event was, even if it was mere months or weeks ago, and extremely significant.

Sadly, I think I also get that way about ‘God’ moments in my life. So many times I catch myself in a state of thinking that God is not involved in the everyday ‘doing’ of my life. I like to refer to this as ‘spiritual amnesia’, because like the people of Israel, I seem to forget all of the good things that God has done in my life! 

The patriarchs of old had a habit of building altars as memorials to significant ‘God’ events – encounters, victories, etc. Jacob set up a pillar (Gen. 28), Joshua made a pile of river stones (Josh. 4), Moses… Abraham… all built Altars of Remembrance in order to worship God and bear witness for future generations. Even in our New Testament era, we have the Lord’s Supper as an act of Remembrance for the ultimate way God answered mankind’s greatest need – forgiveness once for all for sin.

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The One Thing

As I sit in my office and type this out, I feel overwhelmed with the work that yet needs to be done, stuff that should be done, stuff I know won’t get done, and more stuff I’m working on that really doesn’t need to get done, but still occupies my attention and energy.  And as I sit here, I’m hopeful that, as I recognize this, that I will actually do something about it and give proper attention to the things that REALLY matter.  Isn’t the Christmas season generally like this for most of us?  I mean we get caught up in the rush of the season, and in the midst of preparing to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, our emotions and energy get sucked dry in the mundane rituals. 

I hope we’re not like the religious leaders in the Temple…in Luke 2 we see a portrait of life seemingly normal for most when Jesus is brought to the temple in Jerusalem, barely 8 miles from the fields of Bethlehem where He was born eight days prior.  We read of no religious leaders from Jerusalem going to visit, although word was spreading pretty quickly from the Shepherds and three wise guys!  There were two, however, who didn’t miss out on giving proper attention to Christmas, as they were overwhelmed with the discovery, and they did their best to share the news with anyone who would listen…you can read about that in Luke 2:21-38.

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O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree…

If you’ve read any of my blogs or articles, you’ll know I have quite a sentimental streak when it comes to family stuff. For instance, my wife, Darlene, and I have been collecting Christmas ornaments for many years. 

We have ornaments that speak of key times in our journey together – handmade ones from Christmas Markets in Germany when I used to tour there, ones indicating our ‘first’  Christmases (marriage, kids’), ones that speak of our return to Canada after living in the UK for 12 years… all kinds of momentous occasions! I even have a favourite from my childhood, which I found in my mom’s collection, to remind me of family Christmases with members that I can no longer share the season with. And every year when we trim the tree, these are beautiful reminders of events and journeys that God has brought us through.

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Ready, Steady, Go!!

Do the Christmas baking, pull the lights out of the garage; spend the necessary frustrating time untangling the mess that was caused from last year. Of course this year you will vow that you will wrap them up neatly and put them away properly this year (Hold on…didn’t you make that same vow late November last year?) Pull out the artificial tree that you have been using for twenty years, or go shopping with that perfect tree with the family. Experience that tree farm and the token reindeer (ever wonder where the reindeer spend the balance of the year?). Decorate the tree. Do you throw the tinsel on by handfuls or do you place it strand by strand? Apparently this gives some hint as to how your brain is “wired”. I take the middle of the road & place several strands at one time on the tree (although I do confess to an insane urge to defy convention, & be a handful thrower). Send out the Christmas cards, oops, I mean the Christmas emails; RSVP to Christmas party invitations; change the air fresheners in the house to a festive apple cinnamon blend. Carefully plan out the shopping campaign with all the deliberate intensity of a seasoned general planning a foray into enemy territory.

Did I miss anything? After all that is accomplished we sit back with a mug of hot apple cider and a seasonally shaped shortbread cookie, breathe a well deserved sigh and comment, “Now I’m ready for Christmas!”

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You Think You Have It Bad?

Recently I was having a conversation with a friend of mine, and as most conversations go with most every guy, things eventually shifted towards sports.  As we talked about our favorite teams, my friend was lamenting about the current status of his patron team.  When he continued to complain about his suffering through a rough season for his team, I retorted with the statement; “Well you think you have it bad…let’s talk about my teams.”  When I divulged the teams I passionately follow, I soon found myself at the brunt of ridicule and banter.  You see, it’s been some dry days for me as an avid sports fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs (insert your Canucks fan jokes here____), Toronto Blue Jays, Oakland Raiders, and Michigan Wolverines.  In fact the winning percentage of these teams combined over the past 2 years is a paltry .385%, so the only saving grace I have as a sports fan is my beloved Los Angeles Lakers and hometown Windsor Spitfires, both of whom won championships last season (NBA & Memorial Cup champs).

Now if you’re a sports fan, you will undoubtedly, at some point, have to endure some hard times as your team rebuilds or re-invents itself.  If you’ve followed a successful team, you can just take it granted that every year will be followed by a long playoff run, division titles…and perhaps a coveted championship trophy.  Sports can be very humbling…one moment your team is at the top, and 2 seasons later you’re considering adopting another franchise to follow.  When a few flourish, others must suffer…some are always worse off than others.

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