A Charlie Brown Christmas Tree, the National Christmas Tree, and the Grinch

Christmas Eve. Shortly after awakening, I read the Charlie Brown Christmas Story in my iPad. Interactive, games (collect ornaments), dancing moves to mimic, and a great telling of The Real meaning. Now I no longer have a tree. It left ten thousand too many needles on the floor, so I relocated it back to the woods. But I did enjoy it. Charlie Brown had his tree … probably one of the more famous trees of all times and celebrated every year. It is not alone. Annually, people flock to see the tree at Rockefeller Plaza and the National Tree in Washington DC.

But this year, the Washington Tree is in a state of drama. A few days ago, a disturbed soul climbed the tree. Now to be fair, that sounds kind of cool. I wouldn’t mind a little tree climbing in my life. Always the kid I am. Back to the story – it took an hour or so to talk the man down. And on his descent, he damaged some of the strings of lights. So in my best Scooby Doo impression, uhhohh.

Normally not a problem. We have people and resources to handle such a dilemma. Or do we? With the government in shut down, all resources and personnel are frozen. So the lights remain dark, and the tree and welcome center are closed.

Has the Grinch finally had his way in Washington? Has he taken the ribbons, the toys, the roast-beast, the joy? Has Schumer and Trump caused the season to be bleak? My oh my, what a dismal week?

I say no. I say we need to remember the words of the Grinch when he realized he hadn’t stopped Christmas.

“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

― Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

So, has your tree gone away or just gone dark? Does the madness of the world seem overwhelming? I say remember the little child born 2000 years ago – a light in the darkness. A light that still shines. A light the world can not put out. And that light has a name. And that name is Jesus.

I hope you know that light and that He shines in and through you. Shine so the world may see.

Merry Christmas.