December 26, 2011
Breathe deeply; cool your jets; calm yourself: it’s almost over. Whether yesterday was defined by tinsel or tension, the ribbons and wrapping are jammed in the recycle bin, the leftovers are in the fridge… and your attention can now turn to the after-agendas.
It’s a standard reading among the limited Christmas passages: “ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.” (Matthew 2:11-12)
The Magi – wise as they were – had their own great time at the 1 st Christmas crèche, in the house where the no-longer-infant Jesus was housed with his mother. The gift-giving tradition was set in motion by their acts of homage, but after they finished the Christmas service – complete with worship and the offering of their treasures – they had to go back to reality: “they returned to their own country…”
If the Incarnation was celebrated back-to-back with Independence – before, or after July 4 th – it would be a bit easier. As it is, closing down Christmas is packaged with closing down a year. Some folks will use today’s federal holiday as a bargain bonanza, chasing the “after” sales with a vengeance. Others are under-the-gun: for them, 2011 is an unfinished work demanding a month’s work in a week.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to clear some piles from your virtual desktop and come into the New Years Weekend with a sense of accomplishment?
There’s a good chance that your work-related necessities are no bigger today than they will be next Monday. If they require actions by others, you’re probably incapable of closure: the most you’ll get is an out-of-office automated response. If you’ve imposed your own “by year’s end” deadline, lighten the load: give yourself an after-Christmas gift of pressure relief. Chill… it’s good for you.
If you’ve got other life-stacks that are calling your name, it might offer some balance to your sense of meaning and purpose to turn your attention there!
Some fitting foci for this special week: if you could score a game-winning field goal in the final minutes of 2011, would it be worth a shot? What are some worthy considerations, now that it’s two-minute-warning time?
1) If you’re married, think about scheduling a weekend, early in the new year, to deepen your relationship with your life partner! Modern marriages are often dehydrated by holiday demands; give your mate the gift of a relational oasis, out there on the schedule horizon! (A possibility: click here to explore an amazing DreamMaster weekend on Coronado Island!)
2) If you do a bunch of your Kingdom giving during the last week of the year, consider the story of the widow (Luke 12:41-44) and think about arranging your year-end giving in a way that will capture the attention of God. Do you think He provided for the widow, after she made her extraordinary contribution? (A possibility: click here to consider a year-end gift to the mission of The Master’s Program.)
3) If you aspire to make new years better than last years, plan to invest in some personal experiences that will create new capacities in you. Declare yourself – and, the potential of your life – to be “in process”… then, make sure you find some ways to advance the process! (A possibility: click here to consider participation in the Issachar Summit in three weeks!)
Dream with your Best Friend; Invest in Eternity; Strategize the Completion of the Great Commission. Talk about ending the year on a high! May your 2011 finish well… and your 2012 begin with a burst!
Bob Shank