Christmas, You Are My Everest

Three Questions I ask tonight:

Why do we do all of this?
What is happening to the holiday season in America?
What is Christmas; why is it universally joyful?


Stay with me, my messages tonight are initially bleak, but hopefully will become a lot better as you read.

First Question: Why do we do all of this?

When I ask 'all of this', I mean all of this struggle and stress for one day of the year that celebrates something so seemingly average; the birth of a child. Gifts are given, Santa comes, children are smiling. What does any of that have to do with a little baby being born? There are no words I can say to remind anyone of how powerful that child is. The most powerful being in the universe transformed himself into the most innocent, most vulnerable, and arguably the most beautiful thing in the world. As an amateur writer I have always searched for the schisms in literature, and this is one of the grandest ones.

It's really intense and glorious in fact; a little child, perhaps screaming in discomfort, coming down to love all of us. How many men, how many prophecies were fulfilled in this baby? It's almost comical, the little baby who saved us all.

I don't understand why Santa is a thing, and I couldn't tell you why we put a live tree in our home to die, but I do know that we should be celebrating. Our gifts should be given and remembered to be symbols of love for each other, as I've stressed in other posts on love; it is the greatest thing we can do for one another is to love them.

So; why do we do all of this? Austin's answer: to portray the love God showed for us through a baby to those we love & who love us; and to sing and celebrate. To be merry.

Second Question: What is happening to the holiday season in America?

The Christmas tree is a Holiday Tree, commercials do not say Christmas, and signs are constantly placing the word Holiday in their ads. It's crazy, in 1950 Frank Sinatra was singing about Christmas everywhere. Christmas was the bomb until a couple of years ago. I am perplexed and frustrated by this sudden change of pace.

How can people go out and buy toys to put under their holiday trees? What are the toys there for?

So; What is happening in America? Austin's answer: As a whole, Christians are no longer the majority, therefore as not to insult any newer religions in America, we have moved away from the Christ in Christmas.

Third Question: What is Christmas; why is it universally joyful?

I was driving today in the worst driving weather possible. It was cold, rainy, and windy. These three altogether created a high sense of discomfort, however I was in the cheeriest mood. All of a sudden it struck me; I was on a strange Christmas high, and I was happy to be spending the day with members of my family. I was full of warmth during this dreary Christmas Eve.

So I asked myself; why is Christmas universally joyful? Even if half the time it involves putting on a face to appease happy family members, it is still a warm time full of love and laughter. Just a while ago, my family sat around and sang acapella Christmas carols, and it was so delightful and odd to me.

There really is some strange magic around the season, take away the commercialism, the presents, the stress. There is nothing like walking down the stairs to see that glowing Christmas tree, or sitting by the fire with loved ones.

I decided today that I really do love Christmas, in all of its frustration.

So; What is Christmas & why is it joyful? Austin's answer: A time of fellowship, strange joy, and perhaps unaccustomed comfort; but I couldn't tell you why its joyful.

What brings you joy during the Christmas season?

Cheers, God bless, & Merry Christmas,

Austin

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"
Luke 2:13-14

Floating Beauties

Before I begin, let's take a minute to reflect on how intensely beautiful that picture is. There are a lot of crazy creatures out there, like the Narwhal & the Sea Cucumber, but the jellyfish is one of the weirdest.

The ocean in itself is a massive mystery. We, as humans, however much we strive, will never be able to uncover all of it's strange depths.

Jellyfish are incredibly unique animals. There are too many types to count. There are almost microscopic ones in Australia that can either kill or paralyze with just one sting. There are massive ones called Man-O-Wars, that have 200 foot long tentacles, and there's even one that, through use of unique cells, never technically die.

Needless to say, there are a lot of them. And they are oddly similar to humans.

Why you ask? Here are some key characteristics of each:
-sting or harm everything they come in contact with.
-attempt control of direction, but are ultimately controlled by that which holds them.
-notorious wanderers
-travel in groups but are alone.

We, like the jellyfish, are natural born killers. We destroy the trust of our friends, we absentmindedly break bonds, hurt others. When we are born, we are the scum of this earth, even in our beautiful design.

Psalm 51:5 says "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me."
From birth we are evil. However good of a person you may be, you are still not good enough.

We are controlled by our God, our 'ocean'. He holds us, he directs our movements, and he puts us through tests. We will be tossed and turned through waves. We are helpless; "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;"
2 Corinthians 4:8-9

We live in our solitude, whether we like it or not. We can spend time with others, in large groups, maybe having a lot of fun. But we are alone, and without the mercy of our large and mysterious God, we are nothing but a tiny jellyfish in the sea, struggling to stay afloat.

"You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:48

What creatures jellyfish are.

Cheers, God bless,
& Merry Christmas.

Austin