26 December 2010
Fighting the Blues
12/26/10 07:20 AM Filed in: From the Pastor
I received this letter a few years ago and thought now would be a good time to pass it on.
"Pastor, have you ever thought to prepare your people for the after-Christmas blues? I recall that one year during the severe economic crunch I was called on to officiate at two funerals. Both were suicides. Both took place between Christmas and New Year's. Each had a sad story of estrangement, unemployment, and illness behind it. They couldn't handle Christmas.
You see, Christmas begets attitudes before and after. I feel one way before and I feel one way after. The season of good cheer is promoted in reds and greens. Unfortunately, in some it leaves a trail of blue. Before Christmas the feeling of excitement and color is everywhere. Deacons smile at pastors. Preachers cease sniper fire from pulpit positions. Gift surprises are planned. The tempo increases. The whole world turns hopeful. There is incentive to be generous. No matter how many times you live through it, it is still exciting. Look at the houses and the yards with lights and tinsel.
But something happens the day after Christmas. Why didn't it last? The greens, the reds, the silver, and the gold turn to blue. Euphoria is gone. Nothing looks as bedraggled and boring as December 26th. The gifts you thought were exceptional are now closing out at huge discount prices. Christmas alone is not enough.
It takes more than Mary at the manger. It takes finding her later at the cross. The issue is not who came down the chimney. The issue is who came down from Heaven. It takes more than the shepherd guarding the sheep at night. It takes the soldiers herding the prisoner toward Golgotha. It takes more than evergreen and carnations and poinsettias. It takes spikes and thorns and dripping blood. It takes more than a sentimental picture of a cabin and snow. If Christmas could save us, we need not have the Cross. We must have more filled than our stocking. We must have more filled than our stomachs. The souls of men are what ache. They are lonely.
I would like to encourage the ministers to preach Christ as Christmas. Bring your people in adoration and worship to the Babe. Don't allow pantomime, plays and programs to push the pulpit away from center stage. Let the choirs sing, let the Sunday School children perform; let the creative geniuses of our people be utilized. But if they will avoid post-Christmas depression, you must introduce them to the Savior."
"Pastor, have you ever thought to prepare your people for the after-Christmas blues? I recall that one year during the severe economic crunch I was called on to officiate at two funerals. Both were suicides. Both took place between Christmas and New Year's. Each had a sad story of estrangement, unemployment, and illness behind it. They couldn't handle Christmas.
You see, Christmas begets attitudes before and after. I feel one way before and I feel one way after. The season of good cheer is promoted in reds and greens. Unfortunately, in some it leaves a trail of blue. Before Christmas the feeling of excitement and color is everywhere. Deacons smile at pastors. Preachers cease sniper fire from pulpit positions. Gift surprises are planned. The tempo increases. The whole world turns hopeful. There is incentive to be generous. No matter how many times you live through it, it is still exciting. Look at the houses and the yards with lights and tinsel.
But something happens the day after Christmas. Why didn't it last? The greens, the reds, the silver, and the gold turn to blue. Euphoria is gone. Nothing looks as bedraggled and boring as December 26th. The gifts you thought were exceptional are now closing out at huge discount prices. Christmas alone is not enough.
It takes more than Mary at the manger. It takes finding her later at the cross. The issue is not who came down the chimney. The issue is who came down from Heaven. It takes more than the shepherd guarding the sheep at night. It takes the soldiers herding the prisoner toward Golgotha. It takes more than evergreen and carnations and poinsettias. It takes spikes and thorns and dripping blood. It takes more than a sentimental picture of a cabin and snow. If Christmas could save us, we need not have the Cross. We must have more filled than our stocking. We must have more filled than our stomachs. The souls of men are what ache. They are lonely.
I would like to encourage the ministers to preach Christ as Christmas. Bring your people in adoration and worship to the Babe. Don't allow pantomime, plays and programs to push the pulpit away from center stage. Let the choirs sing, let the Sunday School children perform; let the creative geniuses of our people be utilized. But if they will avoid post-Christmas depression, you must introduce them to the Savior."