The stories around me this morning

The stories around me this morning, December 25, 2024, are a bit captivating. Miracle on 34th Street (the original). Kris Kringle shows up and nobody believes it's really him. The Christmas jazz video I'm listening to in the background. I can only occasionally hear a musical phrase that I recognize (which is fine, by the way). The miracles of modern technology make it all possible. Lights, camera, electricity, heat. So much good man has accomplished despite the distressing march through history.The man on TV talking about the Civil War reminds me of that unpleasant fact. I mute the volume to listen to the music and hear the voices in the movie in the background. Can I count the number of times I have watched that movie? Trying to discern the meaning of all these stories. For one thing we take many things for granted. I don't think that in itself is such a bad thing. If we were always thinking about how things might change we could probably go crazy, and I think many people do go crazy that way. But all our lives I think we have believed that things would always be the way they are, and only later do we realize tht is not the case at all. For example, this jazz music. It's pretty jazzy. Only rarely can I discern a Christmas melody, though it's supposed to be Christmas music jazzed up. That is fine too, because it's just calming and beautiful music during which I can think and write. I have two candles on my desk (I call the dining room table my "desk" because it is that more often than it is a dining table). One is a Yankee supposedly Lavender Vanilla, but that scent is completely overpowered by the Yankee balsam and cedar, my favorite. Boy, does that one smell good. Good and Christmas-y. I remember the first Christmas tree candle I bought in around 1990 at Big Lots in Stillwater, Oklahoma. I kept a couple of them. They cost a dollar and they were sensational. Since then I have always compared the various imitations they have around the holidays. Some of them are simply awful. The Christmas tree scent is most like the Yankee balsam and cedar, just so you know. It is sweet, not strong like Pine Sol, if you know what I mean. Natalie Wood as a child asking Kris Kringle for a house. I hear the crackle ofnthe tape (I still watch VHS videos on VCR, and, besides, I learned long ago that as soon as I learn what the acronym stands for, whatever it is is already obsolete). I have a head cleaner tape that still works although it's used up. Amazing. What will I do when it finally quits? See what I mean? When the VCR breaks down, I suppose I might get rid of a bunch of my old movies. I've gotten rid of dozens of them already. You kind of have to mentally prepare for all the changes that keep happening, especially in technology. I put a wonderful down jacket in the box to go to God's Storehouse yesterday. Why? Because it makes no sense to me when it's really cold to wear a jacket that only comes down to your waist. I only paid $10 for it and got it at a thrift store to begin with. I'm actually trying to prepare for when I suddenly die and leave all this stuff for somebody to decide what to do with. It is such a frequent thought that it might be the subject of something fictional in the future. Wouldn't that be lovely? An old person decides to get rid of things so that in the event of her sudden death somebody else won't have to haul it all to the thrift store or the dumpster, and then people start showing up who could use it or would like it, or she remembers all the history behind it, and ends where...what? I have no idea. I'll have to ask a third grader when I get back to school. But the theme is kind of dark for them, so no. The world is filled with stories, and they all have unique meaning to each of us because of our varied experiences. The stories stand on their own or they transfer meaning, usually both. That's what makes them good, I suppose, when they evoke memories. Memories are very powerful. Now the "Christmas Story," what does it mean to the majority of hearers? To many, I suppose it's just another story--a myth, for most, unfortunately. Jesus being born in a manger, of a virgin. The miracle of Christmas most people miss. Why? Because of the sin nobody wants to admit they have, or if they admit they have it, they don't care to worry about it. "We're all human," they say. Yes, we are. We're all sinners. The point is does the sin drive you, do you love it more than you love God? I guess that is the question. It is a simple thing to bow before the King. Simple but not easy for many. I am discouraged by the lack of respect people have for God. Kids have little respect for adults, for the most part. Some of them do, and you know they are learning that at home. They are also learning disrespect at home. It is a perilous time, the Bible says: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 3: 1-7). If these words don't convince you that we are in the last days, I don't know what will. Especially this last, "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." They keep learning about everything except the most important thing they need to learn. The truth--about God, about themselves, about the world. Lies. That is all they understand because, as Jesus always said, "You are of your father the devil who was a liar from the beginning." Well, that's my uplifting word for this Christmas Day. We who believe possess the truth and are therefore able to share it nonstop if we so choose. I love Christmas. It does not offend me that it is "commercialized." Economy is real in our world and so is buying and giving gifts at Christmas. It only comes once a year. I really enjoy it. Today I am going to watch a football game with friends. I don't know the first thing about football, but I hope to learn a little as I go. I should actually try to find a video before I go over there because I don't want to drive them crazy asking them to explain everything. It's for the fellowship, mostly. It's all about people. Everything is all about people. I need to go finish getting ready. I hope you are having a wonderful Christmas Day and I hope it is a day full of meaning and enjoyment which will increase exponentially as soon as you turn your life over to Jesus.