The Salad Days

As the snow flakes drift down onto our already stunningly beautiful snowy landscape today, many things come to mind:

-A recent promotion at work has brought some exciting and difficult challenges. Some of the challenges directly related to this time of year make it very difficult to filter them. This time of year begins to feel like its more trouble than it's worth. I deal with this by realizing that I celebrate a different holiday than most folks in the world.

-People are unable to accept grace. If someone receives a gift, they feel obligated to return the favor. This could not be more true than when it comes to the Messiah. Since we have nothing to give back to God but our thanks, I think it makes it that much more difficult for people to accept Christian truth.

-Why does snow add so much? I spent many happy Christmases as a child in Southern California with no snow. I guess it can be a sort of icing on the cake. To look across the street and see post card worthy beauty is wonderful. Across the street, the neighbor's pine tree in the front yard is decorated with lights. And there is a certain glow which emanates from the light when snow covers the lights. It makes the lights glow in a different way. Saturday, my parents got out of town just before a snow storm that freshened up our landscape, and made the tree tops glisten.

-The light of the world came to a frozen landscape. He came at a time when we all cherish warmth the most. The light of the world thaws our frozen hearts and enables us to receive him. How appropriate that we celebrate his coming at a time of bitter cold and short daylight. The great light of the world came into our hearts and minds in a land where it was always winter, and never Christmas.