Enter Christmas Season
*EnterChristmas Stage Left*
Now we enter into the Christmas rush, where people forget how to drive and kindness is a virtue that holds one back from the best deals. It is my least favorite holiday. I would venture to say the best thing about Christmas is the time I get off from work to be with my family. Why would you ask? Call me a scrooge you may but I have good reasons. First of all the whole Christmas Tree concept doesn’t really appeal to me. What a pain. Realistically its a huge stretch to consider it “Christian”. But I know, we will call it “cultural” and say its part of our society. Its the “season for giving” but instead of helping others out or giving gifts to those in true need we give luxuries to ourselves and our own. We run each other over in stores to get the better deal. More cuss words come from our mouths then praises or blessings. But its just frustration, we really have a heart of love. But Mathew 12:34 tells us out of an overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. What comes from our lips reflects whats in our hearts.
This is the same reason why James says the tounge is the turning point of the body. We go into debt to by gifts for those who do the same for us. And then there is the family get togethers. I don’t know about anyone elses family but at mine, I get to sit in a corner and watch the paint dry at mine. Not quite the type to fit in the others in my family. I’m sure my new tattoo will be a hit *cringe*.
All things aside, scrooge or not there are things that hod true. Jesus is not the reason for the season. Spending is. Its all about the money. If Christmas reflected the ideal reasons it was first apparently concepted to be I might enjoy it more. But Its a season filled with people thinking mostly about themselves and what’s best for them and only them. Do unto others before they do unto you after all.
Damn rat race.
Wisdom in listening
So I was having a conversation with someone today when I came to a realization. We were speaking on a topic regarding an issue in our workplace. I was making a point supported my position when my coworker interrupted me to tell me my point was wrong. The thing is I didn\’t get the point even a quarter out of my mouth when he assumed what it was and interrupted. I first waited for him to finish and when he did I tried to make the point again. He again interrupted. I attempted to finish my sentence without no use. It got to a point where I asked him why he kept interrupting me. He responded with because your point is incorrect. But It wasn\’t and he didn\’t listen to enough to say that.
The short in sweet of it is as people our tendency is to assume. Listening is a rare art. How many times have we stopped listening to people when we think we know what they are gonna say. How many time have we done this in our walks with God. We think we understand something and thus stop searching.
Proverbs likes the search for wisdom and understanding as the search for gold and silver. We should really seek that in our relationships with others. There is wisdom in silence and listening.
Live a life of love
I find lately an influx of legalism creaping in around me and I feel its rather uncomfortable. It seems a lot more lately those that I’m near, in the christian Realm, tend to judge me by their understaind of what I do. I play a video game so I’m a sinner. Or perhaps I don’t attend the same church as them, so I’m gonna burn in hell. And somehow this all is supposed to be encouraging to get me “on the right path.” As though I’d ever left the path God set for me.
I don’t understand as american Christians why we get so caught up with putting someone down that we can’t show love rather then the judgemental crap we dish out. Jesus met up with a lot of different types of sinners, from the small to Great there was always a respect and love that He gave them. Its when he confronted the hypocrits, those who stated they were God’s choosen but were little more then talk, that he became angry and used terms like serpants and vipers. When he confronted the Religous frozen choosen. So why is it that we do not follow that same principal. If I am sick and go to a doctor, and he degrades me and acts in such a way that it boils my anger, am I going to listen to any of the words from his mouth? No. I’ll disregard it no matter how right he may be.
You have to live a life of love, before you can preach a message of love.
