Don't lose Jesus

Our Sunday school class met today to "Hang the Greens" in the Sanctuary -- garland, wreaths, tree with Chrismons -- traditional church decorations.

Our church has a papier mache nativity scene -- Mary holding Jesus, Joseph and the three wise men. The pieces are relatively large -- about 2-3 feet tall each. A few of us were setting up the scene today, and we made a "command" decision. We put Mary and Joseph out on the altar without Jesus. On Christmas Eve, we'll add Jesus, and then on January 6 (Epiphany), we'll add the wise men. As Shelly carried Jesus away, I joked, "Don't lose Jesus."

Do we do that? Do we lose Jesus in the Christmas season? We get busy and stressed, and I think we lose focus on what is important.

JtM and I are teaching Sunday school tomorrow based on the book Rejoicing in Hope by James Harnish. I was telling Steve about the lesson as we walked into Lowes, looking for Christmas trees. We were talking about how when the Advent season arrives, we get busy and we stop doing the disciplines that will lead us closer to God -- prayer, devotions. I mentioned that we were smart last year -- we made time for friends in the month before Christmas, and because of that, we had had a terrific advent season. Steve said, "And look what happened. That great Christmas gift of friendship was a gift that we got to play with all year (he can be very poetic). He's right, though.

We need to keep what is important ahead of what is not as important. The resulting hope is worth the rejoicing that it brings with it.