Friday, February 1, 2013

Dear God,

My Douglas fir Christmas tree stands bare in my living room.  Stripped of all its lights, beads, and baubles, it is still beautiful and it still points me to you.

I wait as long as I can to put away my Christmas decorations.  I love the season and all it brings.  I love the scenery, the sounds, the giving, the hope, the worship, the music, the laughter of children, and the mystery of Christmas Eve.  I love the manger but more than that, the one whose birth we celebrate.

I decided to trim off the branches of the tree and to cut the center into small logs so I could burn it in the fireplace.  I want to smell the sweet scent of pine burning as a reminder of what is good and merciful, and joyous, and grace-filled.  I want to breathe in the air of redemption allowing new birth to happen inside me.  I want to give thanks for your many gifts not just those that appear around the tree on Christmas Day but the ones that come every day of the year.

Let the scent
of your
sweet spirit
rise up
within me,
O Lord;
let me
sing your praise.
Forgive me
when I act
as if
Christmas is over.
Refresh my memory
so I
will live joyously
every day.

Love, Andrea