I don’t know where you are living as you read this, but if you live anywhere near me (Spencer, IN) you faced a rather trying weekend. The snow started flying Saturday around 9:00 am (2 hours earlier than they said) and quit sometime in the evening after dark. When all was said and done we had 5-8″ inches of that white stuff from you-know-where. But along with that was bitter cold temps hitting a Sunday low of -3 around 7:00 am. We made the decision to cancel church and just do live stream. Ryan, our youth pastor, and I were here to do the live stream but something was up with the internet connection and the Sling Studio. So we didn’t even get a chance to live stream. We did record it on his phone and he will be uploading it for the folks to watch. 

I’d like to say it was a comedy of errors but something about that doesn’t strike my funny bone. Ryan did all he knew to do over and over but it still would not stay connected. Then there is me: a person with a dunce cap who has no clue about all IT stuff. 

Now for a Christmas thought: I think one of the overarching themes of this time of year is generosity. The idea of Jesus’ words through Paul (“It is more blessed to give than to receive”) really find a home during the Christmas season. From ringing bells, to Angel Tree gifts, to packing bags of food for kids to take home for Christmas break, to random gift cards, to (you fill in the blank), generosity seems to hit a nerve. 

The seed for that generosity is anchored in a somewhat mythical figure named Santa Claus. I don’t get on the bandwagon about him. I have bigger fish to fry and that is a battle I choose not to fight. I really don’t care. And I am appalled at those who say, “SANTA has the same letters as SATAN.” That is just dumb. The legend of SC is inspired by the feel-good story of St. Nicholas whose idea was seeing every family or person in need and then trying to help. 

Granted, some have taken it too far. But rather than protest in rebellion, why not use it as a springboard to be the most generous people around? After all, we do serve a very generous God who gave the greatest gift of all. Spread some generosity around this year. Smiles and love should be included.