'That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown'

It is December 1, 2024, and I am at the point of not knowing where to begin. I have been doing this since Nov. 19, just under two weeks. I want to say I'm drawing a blank right now, but, like I tell my student writers at school, you just have to start writing. You can't sit and think too much, or nothing will happen. And now I'm doing it. It's true, though. Writing is something you have to start doing before anything happens sometimes.I used to say, "I'd rather be writing." I have a Hallmark block calendar, you know, the kind you switch the numbers and the name of the month, sitting on the table I use for a desk. It has been gathering dust since Sept. 1, I assume of this year. I used it at a job and had stuck a little sign on it saying, "I'd rather be writing." Actually, it said the "I'd rather be" part. I just added the "writing." The design has a red and white fishing bob on top, so I presume it says, "I'd rather be fishing." I am fascinated with this kind of calendar. I have another one in the closet at work I haven't used this year. Too much stuff on the little table So. There was a time when I would rather be writing. I used to think I would write a lot if I didn't have to work. I know exactly where I was when I used that calendar and what job it was. I like the job I have now better than that job, and I am not sure I would rather be writing anymore. Now, it's more like I'd rather be reading. Writing requires something of you that reading does not. Putting thoughts down on paper or typing them requires you to form thoughts and record them. It can be scary at times.I started this discipline of writing every day but I don't know why. When you write, you like to think it might be useful to someone sometime, but you can't depend on it. The Bible says to do everything as unto the Lord, and whatever you do to do it with all your heart. It's a cold, late afternoon, the temperature has dropped from 38 to 29 in just a few minutes, and I'm not thrilled with this change. It happens every year, I knew it was coming soon, so why is it suddenly a big deal? The Lord has been speaking to me about being grateful and thanking him for everything and complaining less and getting angry less. So that's what I have been thinking about since before Thanksgiving. The Bible doesn't single out one day in the year to be thankful, but to be thankful all the time. "In everything give thanks; for this is the will fo God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). That's the one I was thinking about. It does say "in" everything and not "for" everything; I've heard this argument before. But lots of people think the messages are interchangeable. Ever since I first became a follower of Jesus I have been aware of how much the Lord values work. I just saw another verse about work. "But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more (in loving one another); that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing" (1 Thessalonians 4:10-11). I have worked since I was 16, so I am no stranger to work. I haven't always loved my jobs. If I had ever loved a job, I might have been able to retire by now. But, frankly, I am not sure I see retirement anywhere in Scripture. Not saying that it's wrong. If anyone wants to and can retire, that is great for them. I just can't do it, and so I will just keep working as long as I can work. I don't know how long that will be, but I see work as something God values a lot. He even says elsewhere, "If you don't work, you don't eat." That's pretty clear. The Lord has been speaking to me about having his joy inside. The joy of the Lord that the world does not understand. I have never had anyone ask me why I am always happy. First of all, I'm not sure I exude happiness all the time. I do smile a lot, and I am generally content, but not sure I've had people come up to me and say, "Why are you so happy all the time?" That, of course, is supposed to be an open door to share the gospel with them. I have noticed that most people don't notice whether you are showing them a happy face or not. Most people are simply busy getting through the day as best they know how. There are people I have smiled at and greeted in the hall for years, and none of them has asked me, "Why are you always smiling?" or, "Why do you always greet me in the morning?" so I have also learned that you don't do this to show something that you are not feeling. I honestly have the joy of the Lord in my spirit all the time. I let clouds come over it, and I get in moods, but, for the most part the Holy Spirit reminds me night and day that He is with me and comforts me and this is the greatest thing about knowing Jesus Christ as your Savior and having a relationship with Him. He never leaves, He is always there, and He is love. Isn't that what everybody is searching for? His love is the greatest thing in the world. That's one reason I love Christmas. Everyone is kind of open to the vibe of the holidays, whether or not they believe in the Savior. Sometimes I understand it can be a sad time for people as well. It could be very sad for me if I thought family was the reason for Christmas. My family is not all together anymore. I could be very sad with the estrangement of one family member, the geographical distance of another family member, a sibling and both parents no longer with me, but that's a choice I make. I can think about all that and get down if I choose to, or I can stay tuned into what Christmas is really all about: the Nativity of Jesus Christ the Lord, that's what it's really about. I heard some of the music from the Peanuts Christmas video today at the restaurant today, and I may just have to play it after a while. I love the part when --who is? Linus (?) says: "Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before tham, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.' "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!' "That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown." In the video it was in the King James, and I am reading it out of the New King James. Of course it is more beautiful in the King James Version, but the meaning is still clear. This is something to think about all year around, but especially at this time of year. There is really nothing better than to have heard and believed the good news about Jesus and to live every day in friendship with Him. I hope we can all be encouraged no matter what else is going on and be able to encourage others and have opportunities to share his life with those who are searching, perhaps in all the wrong places.