I suppose the weather we’ve had recently could in one sense be called “Christmas-y” in that, like a holy infant, it has been mostly “tender and mild.”
Sixties and low 70s during the day—cool crisp nights with the brightest, full moon I can ever recall seeing. The rising moon was so bright on Christmas Eve, and with a planet hanging close alongside that I hit the Sky & Telescope web site to see if there was anything special about it.
Indeed, I discovered that the moon and Mars were both “in opposition,” which means they were directly opposite the sun (relative to earth). Which translates into extra, double-plus brightness. I’m telling you, looking directly at that moon almost required sunglasses. It was something.
Golf tomorrow.
Work today.
I’ll leave you with what is my favorite Christmas verse of scripture. It is one not normally associated with Christmas but it captures what the holiday means to me much better than any other:
Philippians 2:5-11 (NASB)
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard [His] equality with God a thing to be [selfishly clung to], but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
That’s the good news of Christmas—God the Son, suddenly, shockingly being found “in the likeness of men.” Breathing our air. Walking our sod.
That’s also the challenge of Christmas—the charge to follow the example of the one who did not cling to His rights, privileges and pleasures. But rather became an obedient servant—living and dying for others.
And that’s the promise of Christmas—that one day, the knowledge of His glory will cover the Earth as the waters cover the sea—as every creature acknowledges the truth about He who came.
And we can avoid the rush and start now.