Week of December 13
Being away at Christmas can be a lonely time. Growing up is New England Christmas to me was snow,pine trees, sleds and clear cold nights.
One December, courtesy of the US Army, I spent Christmas in the tropics. There were card board snowmen, artificial tress and lights in palm trees.It just didn't feel like Christmas for a guy who grew up in the Currier and Ives version.
One enterprising unit had a tank and a santa protruding from the turret and eight jeeps connected by ammo belts to the tank sleigh. This didn't help at all.
It was my first Christmas away from the family and I was a real funk. I took this depressed attitude into the base chapel Chritmas Eve. It was a candle light service with traditional carols being sung and familiar Chritmas story being read.
As I exited the chapel into a clear but warm tropical evening I was reminded that
the first Christmas was held in a desert.I looked up at the stars and there was
a particularly bright one overhead.
I got the message loud and clear."An angel said to them, behold I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior who is Christ the Lord...And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
"Glody to God in the highest
And peace on earth." (Luke 2:10
Robert M Salter
Sarasota, Fl.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment