Musings at Altitude

Yesterday was focused on family – two sessions of opening presents, one with my wife’s Dad and her family and one with my Mom and Dad – special breakfast in the morning (a specialty of my wife’s childhood days) – special buffet dinner – then cards, chats, and good byes.

After three straight days of buffets (that’s the ritual now – I’m thankful it wasn’t two in one day this year), I swore I wouldn’t eat again till Tuesday, and yet I’m typing this while waiting on my ham and cheese omelet at yet another buffet!  So, I’ll make that commitment again later today and swear I won’t eat till Wednesday this time!

But this is what Christmas is all about – family, food, giving (and some getting), and the prayers and praise that go with remembering why this is a holiday to begin with – the birth of Christ some 2,000 years ago and the great example of love that He gave us all.

One of my favorite songs starts with “when the music fades, all is stripped away, and I simply come”.  The song continues on to the chorus till, “I’m coming back to the heart of worship.” 

That’s Christmas too – when the gift giving fades, when the buffets stop, when the family celebrations end, then all is stripped away, and I simply come.  At Christmas, we can continue on with this same thought to that very same chorus, “I’m coming back to the heart of worship”, and what Christmas is all about, the celebration of the birth of Christ which in itself is worship.

With the day of Christmas now behind me (is it really ever over though?), I’ll start focusing forward now to remembering 2008 and dreaming of 2009.  I spend lots of time remembering the blessings and thanking God for the wonderful things that have happened.  Even in the not so good things, blessings occur, and in those blessings, praise is given.  I also spend time reaching back and seeking and seeing the answers to prayers – something I think we all should do.  And when I look forward, I dream of the blessings to come, and I hope that every single interaction that occurs will be something meaningful to me and to those I interact with.

With two days of driving ahead as I return to Colorado, I’ll have lots of time to think forward and lots of time to remember too.  Believe it or not, I cherish that time in the car, and I’ll trust my two traveling companions to give me lots of distractions in route as well!