CELEBRATIONS

A few days ago Dianne and I unexpectedly joined a celebration. We were taking a brief vacation to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. No special agenda, just a quiet getaway together before the hectic intensity of Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas. Thanks to some nice gifts for Pastor Appreciation Sunday, we booked an inexpensive room (read "off season rates") at the Hampton Inn at Woodstock, Virginia. Only 180 miles from home in the midst of some magnificent mountains and ripe with Civil War history (I am a Stonewall Jackson fan and Dianne thrives on museums.) Hampton Inns have often been the place to which we retreat--great service, comfortable rooms, an early breakfast (for early rising Steve).

The Hampton Inn at Woodstock proved to be a brand new hotel, and its staff was especially sharp, friendly, and helpful. That night we discovered that the next night was the hotel's official grand opening. (In fact, we met the owner, a Lancaster County native named Lefever--who invited us personally). Great food, lots of people, horse and buggy rides. The guests included people from the community, the families of the employees and owner, contractors. A festive evening. Even though we were peripheral to the celebation, we were warmly welcomed and enjoyed a memorable time.

We are less than 2 weeks from Thanksgiving, a civil holiday in the US; and Christmas, a Christian holiday that has been embraced by the culture as a time of good will and good works. Dianne and I, like many of you, will be a part of those celebrations, too. Yet because we are Christians, we will not be peripheral participants--especially to the Christmas celebration. For Christmas is the celebration of the greatest news that anyone on Planet Earth ever received. That God in His grace had come in the flesh to redeem His people from their sin. In just the right time, when we were powerless (and clueless), God acted out of the richness of His love to end the separation of sin that left His people lost and without hope.

Others will celebrate Christmas for their reasons. We can neither control that nor condemn that. We just need to celebrate Christmas for Christ's reasons, for we are the people of Christ.