Susan's Sitting Room: A New Battery. And Some Perspective.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

A New Battery. And Some Perspective.

The weekend's battery drama is now resolved. The problem was, in fact, a bad battery. The car has been checked over and given a clean bill of health. And because the problem was with the battery, and because the battery was still under warranty, all that cost us was a little aggravation. Well, make that a lot of aggravation. But zero dollars. And that's good news!

I'm very thankful that the problem was resolved so easily. And that, in the grand scheme of things, it was such a minor problem. Even as that problem was being dealt with, I have friends who are dealing with much different kinds of problems. One friend beginning dialysis. One scheduled for an outpatient surgery on Wednesday. Another scheduled for outpatient surgery on Friday. And another waiting for a diagnosis on some spots on her lungs. All of that reminds me that my little battery problem wasn't really such a big deal. All those issues my friends are dealing with puts my battery issue into perspective.

Perspective. That's what's missing at this time of year. As we over-spend. And over-bake. And over-eat. And over-schedule. And over-decorate. And over-stress. We're just over the top.

It's really easy to get carried away with buying gifts and baking cookies and making candy and going to parties and hosting dinners and decorating every nook and cranny of our homes. On and on and on we go. And I'm right there baking and decorating and all the rest.

But when I slow down. When I sit and ponder. When I think about what Christmas is really all about. Then I wonder. What does all this really have to do with that night so long ago in that little town of Bethlehem?

Bethlehem these days is a lot different than it was when Jesus was born.

As you walk the streets of modern-day Bethlehem, it's sometimes hard to imagine the sleepy, quiet village we sing about in many of our carols. It can be a bit difficult to put it all into perspective.

Yet, in spite of the hustle and bustle and noise, and the fumes from cars and buses in the streets, and the street vendors, and all the other facets of life in Bethlehem today, it was there that our Savior was born. There in the little town of Bethlehem. While people slept, and shepherds watched their flocks in the fields nearby, and angels hovered overhead, Christ was born.

We celebrate that event with carols and candles. With trees and gifts. With parties and family gatherings. And all of that is wonderful! But this season, may we keep a right perspective on our celebrations. And may we perhaps get away from our hustle-bustle-got-so-much-to-do, over-the-top way of doing things, and may we find a quiet place to reflect on why we are doing all this in the first place.

This Christmas season, may we find room in our celebrating to spend time with this One who was born of Mary, who came that we might have life everlasting.

"O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend on us, we pray.

Cast out our sin and enter in; Be born in us today.

We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell.

O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord, Emmanuel.

("O Little Town of Bethlehem", verse 4; words: Phillips Brooks; Music: Lewis H. Redner)