Don't Let Jesus Get Lost in the Shuffle

So...just what is this, you might ask?  Let me tell you the story, and how it ended up causing some thought and ultimately "preached".
This little piece of wood was found in a box of Christmas lights as we were putting up our Christmas tree.
Rene' pulled it out of the box and laid it up on the table and I ask, "What is that?"
She responded, "That's Jesus...that got lost in the shuffle."  I immediately knew what she was talking about, and we just both looked at each other quickly, because of what she had just said, and we both knew that what she had said....would "preach"...in a round about way...and after we had time to think about the significance of what she had said, but had actually meant in another way.  If you didn't quite understand all that..well, I am not sure I did either...so I will continue.
This is actually a little carved piece of wood that was part of a nativity scene.  This particular piece of wood is the "Baby Jesus", that was laid in the manger of the scene.  In the shuffle of a Christmas past, this piece had gotten lost and ended up in the box with the string of lights, after somehow being removed and lost from the manger where it should have been.
So, why does this preach?    I am sure you also have already figured it all out and already got the point...but for the sake of those who may have not....here are the thoughts that came oozing through the gray matter, all at once, as Rene' spoke those words which carried a lot more suggested meaning than one might at first think...and maybe only after really thinking about the hidden message that might be for all of us to consider at this time of the year once again.
So, before I try and explain the thoughts that immediately raced through my mind when Rene' said those words, let me begin by asking a question.  Why is this time of year so dog-gone stressful and hectic?  I don't really understand why we have allowed it to become the crazy, fast-paced, shopping frenzy, party-packed time of year where winter and snow and presents and food and lights and stores and traffic and rushing and hustling and bustling and parties and programs and mailings and travelling and tinsel and holly and whole lot of other things that on their own are not particularly bad in and of themselves, but when all thrown together in a one-month period of time...end up spelling Christmas as we have come to know it.  I don't know about you, but every year I end up feeling guilty about what Christmas has become.  Not all of it...but most of it.   And I often wonder how God feels about it all.  And I often feel like I am a Scrooge for feeling this way...so I try and justify some of the better parts of it all...and then I come back around and enjoy parts of it...while down deep inside I still feel like we have just got parts of Christmas all wrong.
And how does all this relate to a piece of wood found in a light box?  When Rene' said, "that's Jesus...that got lost in the shuffle"...all of these thoughts and more raced through my head in a split-second and they all came rushing down at me instantly saying,  I am guilty of losing Jesus in the shuffle...and I don't like it.
I believe there are a whole lot of very good things about Christmas, things that Jesus would be pleased in, and  might do Himself, if He were here now.   I think we should "intentionally"  be about "those things" and make them the priorities of the season.  What are they?  I believe we probably all know what they are...and could list them.  So let's do it!  And then let's do those things...and not let Jesus get lost in the Christmas shuffle.

EGD

Gotta thank my awesome daughter Emily for going with me to my 2nd EGD!   Oh the fun and excitement of medical procedures!   Also, a big thanks to Em for snapping such an awesome picture of me that I will cherish for years to come!  (Truth be known, I do not mind this procedure at all...in fact, I kinda like going into and coming out of the anesthesia...except for knowing you were photographed in the midst of it...although, it could have been a lot worse).  And, here is the best part.   I did not find out until later that same night, as Emily was telling the story, that the doctor and the nurse both came in while I was "still very loopy", after the procedure, and I was acting very out of it and responding to things they said or did in peculiar ways...and she says I ask her multiple times if she got her homework done (which she had been doing in the lobby while she was waiting).  Needless to say, I don't remember any of it.  All I remember is walking out of the building and getting into our car to leave...the rest is not part of my memory....except for the stories Emily told me.

Pre-Christmas 2011

 

 Cousins involved in the Living Nativity at Somerset Beach Campground.  They had a lot of fun putting some real drama into the program this particular evening.

Here are a couple pics of our trip to Arend Tree Farm in Brooklyn, MI...after we spent a little time finding a tree.  A fun tradition...and we were especially happy to have Emily with us again this year.

Thanksgiving 2011

This was our year to head to Greenville and be with my side of the family for Thanksgiving.  CK, my sis was already there a day early, since Kayce, her daughter, is a freshman at GC this year, and she got there ASAP to be with her.  We all rendezvoused at one of our favorite places in Greenville, Mario's Pizza.   If you have never been to Mario's Pizza in Greenville, then you need to go if you ever get to Greenville.  It is traditional italian family recipe pizza, straight from Sicily...and it is not just put on a conveyor belt and sent through an oven.   It is oven cooked in a large oven where we have watched them move the pizza's around and "tend" them and pat and poke them, etc...which we believe must have something to do with why their pizza is so good.
Nevertheless, we also have "traditional" activities when we Smith's and Oglesby's get together...including, the playing of "Scum" (a card game where we get to, or have to wear funny hats if we are the "King" "Queen" or "Scum" for that particular round) (and we have started taking pictures of each trio of hatted individuals...especially since facebook became so popular in our family.
We also tuned-in to the Thanksgiving Day Macy's Parade, watched UofM Football defeat Ohio State (GO BLUE!!!), took in a movie together (this year we saw the new Muppit Movie), had an awesome Thanksgiving Day Dinner (Thanks Mom for all your hard work in making it special for us again!!!), raked the leaves for Mom and Dad, and spent the rest of the time relaxing!  Oh, I did get to do a couple fix-it jobs for Mom and Dad, but mainly just helped them figure out they needed a new VCR/DVD player...and then hooked it up for them.
My nephew, Benton, being the working man that he is...was with us for less than 24 hours, as he had to come late...and leave early to get back to work Black Friday.  (Gotta love it...) (Actually, you won't get me anywhere near anything having to do with Black Friday...and if you know me...you know I am serious!) Anyway, a big thanks to Benton for going out of his way to be with us for the short amount of time he was able!   It was great to see him!
All in all, our time together was short...but sweet.  Love being with my family...and we had a fun time together!