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| Dec. 3, 1999, Mt. Shasta area. With the Wallaces. George and I find and cut our tree. |
I'm sitting at my desk, determined to complete a blog post, resting my cast-enshrouded lower leg on the bench beside me.
My first inclination is to write about morbidity and mortality. (Perhaps I've been sitting here way to long.) In case you didn't know, the Government publishes a weekly report on sickness and death. If you're wondering about trends, you'll find the site informative.
While employed by The Upjohn Company, I had the dubious pleasure of such reports crossing my desk . . . weekly, in hard copy.
But, it's almost Christmas, so I'll save that feel-good romp for another time.
Because I'm "laid up," I'm discovering that there is a cartload of Christmas movies, mostly on the Hallmark channels, but also available on LMN, UP, TBN, TCM, and so forth.
Old movies, like A Christmas Carol, with Alastair Sims (1951) can be watched in its entirety on YouTube. I've watched a half dozen renditions of Dickens' story, and this is still my favorite.
Hey! I've got a lot of time on my hands, and I'm discovering some terrific movies that I've never seen before.
Because it bothers me, I have to mention a trend I see in the newer movies. There's often a scene wherein adults are reading or telling a story to some children. Often, the music and lyrics in the background is Silent Night or Joy the World (the LORD is come), but the story is not THE story. It's generally A Christmas Carol or that hackneyed poem by Clement Moore. And Jesus, of whose birthday Christmas is a celebration, is never mentioned. Although one movie did refer to the Savior. How about that!
I'm not surprised at the avoidance of the Messiah's name. People take offense. He told us they would, of course. It's the juxtaposition of the lyrics ("let earth receive her King") beside a visit from Santa that troubles me. I don't get it. Are Christmas carols simply becoming background music to the world's view of this holiday?
Even in A Christmas Carol, which is ultimately about a man repenting, asking forgiveness, and opening his heart to Jesus, the Name is avoided. However, Bob Cratchit does mention the One who made blind men see and crippled men walk. (In the movie, anyway. If you've recently read the story, let me know if you find Jesus in there.)
So, what I'm seeing is merely the Ghost of Christmas. There's plenty of talk about what the movie makers think Christmas is all about, without a mention of the One who came and why He did so. Instead, Christmas is touted as being all about family and love. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it's a Ghost, a thin apparition through which you may walk. It lacks true substance.
Often in these newer movies, materialism is decried in favor of relationship healing and some small tokens of affection. And that's great. In fact, it redeems these stories for me. But would it hurt for them to say it's the birthday of the King? Probably.
I love Christmas. It's my favorite time of the year. And because I have a broken bone in my foot, I have lots of time to think about the real Christmas and what it means to me personally. I cannot stand, although like a flamingo, I can balance on one foot for brief periods. Although I could drive, I can't get into my car. The situation forces me to be still and to depend on others. (My neighbors have been wonderful.) I have not decorated, but I am grateful for Laurie's flowers, which dress up my counter. (I am also thankful for Amazon.com, whereby I was able to finish my Christmas shopping.)
Every year since George and I married, the story of Christmas was read in our home. Sometimes just from Luke, but also some verses from Matthew and even Isaiah. A few years ago, I video-taped my grandsons reading this story. I think that this year, I'll listen to them reading it to me.
God bless us, everyone.
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| Blue. To match my toes. |
While employed by The Upjohn Company, I had the dubious pleasure of such reports crossing my desk . . . weekly, in hard copy.
But, it's almost Christmas, so I'll save that feel-good romp for another time.
Because I'm "laid up," I'm discovering that there is a cartload of Christmas movies, mostly on the Hallmark channels, but also available on LMN, UP, TBN, TCM, and so forth.
[SIDE BAR]
No matter what the theme of these
programs (and some are truly sappy), you can pretty much count on three things—a romance, a happy
ending, and snow on Christmas Eve.
[END SIDE BAR]
Hey! I've got a lot of time on my hands, and I'm discovering some terrific movies that I've never seen before.
Because it bothers me, I have to mention a trend I see in the newer movies. There's often a scene wherein adults are reading or telling a story to some children. Often, the music and lyrics in the background is Silent Night or Joy the World (the LORD is come), but the story is not THE story. It's generally A Christmas Carol or that hackneyed poem by Clement Moore. And Jesus, of whose birthday Christmas is a celebration, is never mentioned. Although one movie did refer to the Savior. How about that!
I'm not surprised at the avoidance of the Messiah's name. People take offense. He told us they would, of course. It's the juxtaposition of the lyrics ("let earth receive her King") beside a visit from Santa that troubles me. I don't get it. Are Christmas carols simply becoming background music to the world's view of this holiday?
Even in A Christmas Carol, which is ultimately about a man repenting, asking forgiveness, and opening his heart to Jesus, the Name is avoided. However, Bob Cratchit does mention the One who made blind men see and crippled men walk. (In the movie, anyway. If you've recently read the story, let me know if you find Jesus in there.)
So, what I'm seeing is merely the Ghost of Christmas. There's plenty of talk about what the movie makers think Christmas is all about, without a mention of the One who came and why He did so. Instead, Christmas is touted as being all about family and love. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it's a Ghost, a thin apparition through which you may walk. It lacks true substance.
Often in these newer movies, materialism is decried in favor of relationship healing and some small tokens of affection. And that's great. In fact, it redeems these stories for me. But would it hurt for them to say it's the birthday of the King? Probably.
[SIDE BAR]
I’d like to mention one movie, "Christmas with a Capital C", which was aired on TBN a few days ago. The story is based
upon song lyrics by Go Fish. Very different from typical fare. No real romance,
but a happy ending, and because it takes place in Alaska ,
there’s snow everywhere.
And, does anybody know just how
many Baldwin boys there
are?
[END SIDE BAR]
I love Christmas. It's my favorite time of the year. And because I have a broken bone in my foot, I have lots of time to think about the real Christmas and what it means to me personally. I cannot stand, although like a flamingo, I can balance on one foot for brief periods. Although I could drive, I can't get into my car. The situation forces me to be still and to depend on others. (My neighbors have been wonderful.) I have not decorated, but I am grateful for Laurie's flowers, which dress up my counter. (I am also thankful for Amazon.com, whereby I was able to finish my Christmas shopping.)
Every year since George and I married, the story of Christmas was read in our home. Sometimes just from Luke, but also some verses from Matthew and even Isaiah. A few years ago, I video-taped my grandsons reading this story. I think that this year, I'll listen to them reading it to me.
God bless us, everyone.
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