So, how was your Thanksgiving?
Not the food and football (another brutal day for Cowboys fans).
My real question is how the current state of affairs affected your gathering.
I had the privilege of preaching at First Baptist Church in Decatur yesterday (where I am currently serving as Interim Worship Pastor). Out of curiosity, I did an informal poll during the service and asked how many had their normal gathering without any adjustments, how many had a modified gathering, and how many just hunkered down with their immediate household.
Of those who raised their hands (I suspect a lot of folks abstained from sharing because of fear of judgment in the current climate), all three options were represented.
Here’s the real, real question: How did the current state of affairs affect your thankfulness?
I’ll leave that with you to simmer and move on to the next question—one I believe to be in the minds of many people as we move into December:
What if this messes up Christmas?
It’s a legitimate question because it appears that we won’t have widespread distribution of a vaccine before Christmas. And in addition to the risk of illness, there are still those who are suffering from the economic effects of this longterm situation.
Although it is a legitimate question, I’d like to reframe it in a way that helps us to be more intentional about our approach to the Christmas season.
Instead of asking “what if” let’s ask “how.”
How will we insure that Christmas is not messed up?
One of the most important lessons we can ever learn is to invest our energy in areas that we can truly control or influence.
Since none of us has control or influence over the coronavirus, let’s take that off the table.
In my devotional reading today, this quote from Nick Harrison stood out for me: “What if, what if, what if? These two words are the preface that Satan uses to instill fear in the life of the believer.”
It reminded me of a passage of Scripture that was part of my sermon yesterday.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7)
These words help us with the “how” by telling us what we should do: rejoice, show gentleness, pray, be thankful, ask God for help.
There is also something to avoid: anxiety.
In other words, don’t let “what if, what if, what if” carry you away into worry and anxiety.
John Wesley, the great preacher and founder of Methodism, said, “What [God] forbids is, that care which sad experience shows, wastes the blood and drinks up the spirits; which anticipates all the misery it fears, and comes to torment us before the time. He forbids only that care which poisons the blessings of today, by fear of what may be tomorrow; which cannot enjoy the pleasant plenty, through apprehensions of future want.”
How will we keep this from messing up Christmas?
We will choose to be joyful in the significance of the season rather than in the traditions and habits of the season.
We will choose to be thankful for what we have rather than discouraged over what we lack.
We will remember that Christmas is a celebration of the ultimate gift God gave to us in Jesus and we will make room in our hearts for that celebration even if we have to adjust what happens in our houses this year.
And we will choose to allow incomprehensible peace to guard our hearts and minds today and carry us into what tomorrow holds.
Amazing is not what happens to us; it is what we choose to embrace.
Be amazing today, my friend.
