Christmas: Part Mystical

FRI., DEC. 27, 1996, 8:25 PM
BOB’S, CHARLESTON

The Christmas season is waning, as you have celebrated it in several different settings. The buying, wrapping, giving and receiving of presents is past, except for here. You were not “over-burdened” with gifts, and that was pleasant. Now it is just time to enjoy this “mixed family” of which you are a part here.

As that article you read before this holiday assured you, Christmas has always been part sacred, part mystical, part pagan, and part excessive celebration. In your culture it certainly is all of these, and more. Thus it is another kind of “test” for your spirit: can you deal with… and resist… the pressures to spend excessively and give, just to be giving? You do pretty well with this, and sometimes you’re even a bit too non-commercial. The balancing has to be done each year. There is no such thing as perfect balancing that can be maintained intact over years.

You were reminded of the sacred in the Eve service at your church. The carols were varied, and the Scripture readings were the appropriate reminders. You felt that the story Richard read was a bit hokey and overlong, but the message of giving to others rather than spending on yourself is “basic Christmas doctrine”.

There is lots of the mystical, both in the Christian story and in the secular ones. In the former, I as Jesus, was conceived through My power, as Holy Spirit and then was born in Bethlehem, the city of David, fulfilling a prophesy that I would somehow be in David’s line. Shepherds were told of My birth by angels, and I was visited by gift-bearing magi who followed a star that moved and finally came to indicate the place where I was as a babe. An angel warned Joseph, my earthly parent, that My life would be in danger, and he was told where to take Me.

And you’re right… the chronology has some mystical quality to it, in My being brought to the temple (partly for Simeon’s benefit) and also being off for Egypt. A cruel, pagan part of the story is usually omitted, the killing of many young Jewish babies as “protection” for the future of kingly rulers in that land.

The Santa story is mystical, with reindeer that fly and a sleigh that will carry gifts (some big ones) for boys and girls around the world, all delivered in a few hours of darkness and sleep. “It’s a Wonderful Life” once again gave you a vicarious experience with the Bailey family in Bedford Falls, wherein a life dedicated to the people of his community, that of George, was “rewarded” with a picture of what life would have been without him and with the generous help of friends when he was in trouble… all helped along by a strange angel named Clarence.

Then yesterday, through the afternoon and night-time hours I heard a number of prayers from you for the safe and normal completion of your trip here, with that bothersome noise accompanying. You’ll listen to it tomorrow, and then decide whether some service will be needed. Either way, I’ll expect more prayers on the return trip. And try to work in some time to make some selections from the Teachings that will be My contribution to this next Ruminations. I did hear your prayerful promise of high priority for this Letter, in thanks for a safe trip here… and shall expect you to follow through.