Author: Wick

It began with expectation/desire for something extra-ordinary, after all, I was giving up much more than the usual time for silence. I was apart from the everyday. I wanted something of substance to take back into the week with me, an insight or experience with God that would “wow” anyone who heard. I was spending time in His creation, with the words of Psalm 40 and the Beatitudes on my mind…

It wowed me, for sure. The way that I was wowed when taking a walk with my wife when we were dating. No giant “happening”. No experience to take back and brag about. Simply, soaking in the time we were able to spend together. I walked with God. 🙂 Looking forward to more….

So I’ve twittered a couple times about Focus on the Family’s annual effort to get upset over retailers who don’t use the word “CHRISTmas” enough. I didn’t think it deserved much publicity. But some of this is so painful to believe is out there…it’s almost entertaining.

Under the “comments” posted for why a particular business might be viewed/boycotted for being “Negative” towards CHRISTmas:

for GAP: “Made 2 purchases at the GAP yesterday and I was wished happy nothing.”

“Very offended by the recent advertisement. How dare they suggest we celebrate what we want?”

for Banana Republic: “Since you are only selling “Holiday Gifts” and I only buy “Christmas Gifts”, there will be no need for me to shop in your store.”

for Best Buy: “Used Christmas music without Christmas words.” (hehe…my favorite)

“I’ve spent my last dollar at Best Buy. …We have to start standing up for what we believe in … Best Buy – you lost a good customer!”

Oh man. For real. Retailers are here to….(drum roll please) MAKE MONEY. It’s unfortunate, I know, but it’s there. It’s precisely the reason God has called us to be a light in the darkness, not a light in a room even dimly lit. We cannot place expectations of Christ-like-ness on those people and entities not transformed by Christ.

If anything, continuing to personify retail locations….perhaps those who have removed the word “Christ” from advertising or who are (gasp) celebrating other religious holidays….should be the stores we frequent the most often, and with the most amount of Love.

As a fan of pacifism, especially lately, I’m excited about spending a week focusing on peace in our home. We definitely live in a world that needs more Christians who stand out among a natural pace of reaction and defense that seeks to prove, establish, or defend one’s position or rights in so many ways. You see it in the 2 and three year old children in my house and the friends they play with. You also see it in the much older grown ups who play with countries and businesses, instead of toys.

In a large sense, seeking to live humbly helps us in our pursuit of peace. Sometimes when we strive to do this, we simply focus on the needs of others. But that may only work so far as others and their needs remain our focus. When we’ve met their needs, or are moved to a new environment, it’s very easy for our attention to shift back to ourselves.

But when, in pursuit of humility, we practice the emptying and letting go of our “selves”….we make room for Christ. We prepare for what is to come, and we live in reality more than ever before. The reality of a God who has created us in His image….a God who’s identity was always to give up Godself and Gods’ rights for us.

Philippians 4:7 tells us that the peace that comes from emptying and letting go of ourselves for the sake of Christ and His reality – brings with it a peace that is beyond understanding. Living from such a peace will lead us to a life that others, and even ourselves at times…do not understand. I pray that my life, and the life of my family, continues to become less understandable….

(knowing full well that it’s BOTH those who are following Christ, AND those who are quite far from what He is about….who may be praying that prayer.)