7 Days to Christmas. Friday, Dec 18, 2020
“Right-lane Drivers”
One week until Christmas. All is not yet quiet. In fact, it’s downright crazy today and will continue this weekend. This weekend will be one of the busiest traffic weekends of the year. Granted, 2020 has broken plenty of “standards”, but it’s unlikely that even 2020 isn’t powerful enough to slow the traffic flow that will begin today. And, of course, along with this incredibly high traffic volume, we must also acknowledge the incredibly low level of patience that most of us will possess. Given that 2020 has already been one giant test of patience, we should recognize that we might not have any of it left in our tank.
Point noted: Lots of folks will be out and about this weekend, and, despite their slow driving, their level of patience is just as low as mine. As a result, I’m considering this to be the annual “patience warning” that I make to myself. The person in front of me, who should be driving in the other lane, isn’t trying to make me late. Nor are they stalling to keep me from picking up that last-minute gift. The person driving slowly in front of me is also trying their best to navigate the road hazards, poor weather, bad signage, up-tight bosses, and Santa-starved children.
In this final week of Christmas preparation, it might be helpful for us to remember one small detail: Christmas is not supposed to be stressful. If you are stressed, remember that God didn’t come to this world to put more pressure on us. God came to the world at Christmas to remove the pressure from our head, heart, and shoulders. God wants us to be free to receive Christmas in the manner that God intended: forgiveness, healing, and relief for a world that is rocking and reeling in pain.
Be patient. Be kind. Christmas miracles will occur, but if we’re driving out-of-control, we won’t be able to read our own name on the gift tag.
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Luke 6:38, NIV)
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