I just finished reading a column by Charles Lowery, a noted speaker and author, about "The Main Event" of Christmas. It was a timely article for me, as I've been thinking about these things myself lately, the closer we get to Christmas.
He tells a story about a young boy who wanted to see the circus that was coming to town, but his poor family couldn't afford the ticket price. His father had told the boy if he could earn half, the father would cover the other half. Over the next couple of weeks, the boy earned his half, and good to his word, the father spotted him the rest.
Elated, the boy purchased his ticket on opening day, then ran down to Main Street in time for the Circus Parade. He was mesmerized by the lions, elephants, acrobats, clowns, etc., as they all pranced down the street. As the last clown danced by, the boy handed him his ticket, then ran back home.
Later, when his dad came home, he asked, "You're home from the circus a lot earlier than I expected. How was it?". The boy excitedly described all the sights, sounds, smells- the whole thrilling spectacle. Then he told about giving his ticket to the last clown. The father sadly picked his son up, set him on his lap, and said, "Son, I have some bad news. Today, you missed the main event, the circus. You only saw the parade."
I think so many people rush around during this season, shopping, eating, attending Christmas parades and spectacles, some maybe even enthusiastically. Yet this is also the time of the year with the most cases of depression and suicide. People are missing the Main Event.
To me, I can see why people can get down this time of year. It seems pointless to do the same thing, year after year- rush, shop, eat, repeat. The same Santa stuff, the same parties, the same gifts, the same tv specials, etc.
What makes Christmas really Christmas is Christ! We commemorate and celebrate the coming of the Savior, the long-awaited hope of mankind, the One who has come to save us from sin, despair, and separation. Its not fairy tale or traditions. He is the Main Event, the reason for the season. Every year, I want to experience, not the fluff of the stuff of "the holidays", but the Christ of Christmas.
This Christmas, I don't want to miss Jesus.