For Wilshire Baptist Church (12/27/16)
With Christmas Day behind us I had intended to write something about New Years and all the hope and changes that come with the turning of the calendar. But then a song came to mind and I had a change of heart; I want to linger in Christmas a while longer.
You see, LeAnn and I have been going to sleep listening to Christmas music since early December. It’s mostly been quiet instrumental or choral arrangements of carols and classical church music and not secular songs. It’s been a wonderful way to drift off to sleep and I thought it was over until I remembered an album I hadn’t heard yet this year and one particular song that I needed to hear. And so I found it and listened.
It felt odd at first because the build-up to Christmas is behind us and the world is already racing toward the new year. But then I remembered what my good friend Paul Mangelsdorf announces every year at this time: “The 12 days of Christmas don’t start until Christmas Day and don’t end until January 5.” Aha! That is clearly a good reason to linger in Christmas.
But perhaps Christmas goes on beyond the 12 days. I’ve always admired the philosophy of hotelier Conrad Hilton, who is buried at Calvary Hill Cemetery near Dallas Love Field. Hilton was born on Christmas Day 1887 and when he died 91 years later he gave most of his wealth to charitable causes. His grave marker is engraved with these words: “Charity is a supreme virtue and one great channel through which the mercy of God is passed on to mankind. Christmas is forever.”
So Christmas is not just a season; it can be a way of living. In fact, that is the message I always find in that song I needed to hear. It is “Aspenglow” from John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain Christmas” album. The song is secular, but the melody and words are as gentle as candlelight, and in my listening I always replace the word Aspen with Christmas:
[Christmas] is a life to live
See how much there is to give
See how strongly you believe
See how much you may receive
So I’m going to linger in Christmas a while longer – to January 5th for sure and beyond that if I can. I think it’s a good place to be.