God Bless Us, Every One!

 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.                                 Colossians 3:12-17

Last night, I crossed something off my bucket list. I went to see a one man show of "A Christmas Carol" (my favorite book of all time), performed by Gerald Dickens, the great, great grandson of Charles Dickens. It was every bit as good as I had hoped it would be. I also had the chance to talk with Mr. Dickens for about 5 minutes or so, and it was a wonderful conversation. If you should ever have the chance, your should see him perform. It is well worth it.

I've loved "Christmas Carol" ever since I first saw the Alistair Sims movie version as a child. When I read the book as an adult, it's story hit me so strongly, I've read it at least once a year ever since. It has everything a story could want...Drama, Humor, Conflict, Resolution. But there is something more to this tale than the story itself. It questions the lives we lead, not just for ourselves, but with and for those around us. Closing ourselves up, rather than reaching out. Thinking we are keeping others out, so that pain cannot come in. In reality, closing the pain within our own walls, never letting it out.

In the closing Stave, Scrooge sees his redemption is in treating his fellow man with compassion and love. That is where the verses above, I think, take on such great meaning. The election season has been a brutal one, flaming the passions of many. That has just been the final torch light, however, to growing tensions and passions over the last few years, both in America and beyond. In our fight for our own selfish rights, we have often trampled on others, without even casting a glance down. Taking a stand is right, and necessary, but to do so as Christians ALSO requires " compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience...".We must " let the peace of Christ rule " in our hearts. Our peace, our healing, comes by loving as Christ has called us to love. Re-read those verses above. It does not call to deny your faith, nor does it call to ignore your beliefs. It says, in simplest terms, to love.

If we can bring ourselves to love others, as Jesus has loved us, then it will be truly said that we've kept Christ in our hearts, every day of the year. We will have turned to Him, and away from our wicked ways. And then at last, God will heal our land. God will bless us, every one.