christmas music? what?

Every year I go through this apprehension when it comes to Christmas music. Don’t get me wrong, I ADORE Christmas music, and even more, the Reason for it. But everyone is in such a rush to bring in the Christmas season, and I am always worried about hearing the music “too soon”. I’m afraid of it losing it’s magic and appeal if I hear it too soon. And I am always shocked at how fast time is flying by and how the holidays sneak up on me every single year. [I am a “Chrismas Eve Shopper”; one of those insane people who waits until the last possible minute to hit the malls. It is part procrastination, part financial necessity, but it’s all true!]

I listened to some great Christmas music over the weekend (thanks Swanger!) and it felt right. So, I gathered up all my Christmas CD’s, took them to work with me today, and popped a few in periodically throughout the day. The last one I listened to today is one of my favorites—RelientK’s “Deck the Halls, Bruise Your Hand”. Before you laugh at the prospect of Christmas punk music, read the words to my favorite song on the album:

“And with Christmas wish is missed the point I could convey;
If only I could find the words to say to let You know how much you’ve touched my life,
Because,
Here is where you’re finding me, in the exact same place as New Year’s Eve,
And from the lack of my persistence here, we’re less than half as close as I wanna be.

And the first time that you opened your eyes,
Did you realize that you would be my Savior?
And the first breath that left your lips…
Did you know that it would change this world forever?

And so this Christmas I’ll compare,
The things I’ve felt in prior years;
To what this Midnight made so clear
That You have come to meet me here.

To look back and think that this Baby would one day save me.
And the hope that, that You were born, were born so I might really live.
To look back and think that this Baby would one day save me…

And the first time that you opened your eyes,
Did you realize that you would be my Savior?
And the first breath that left your lips…
Did you know that it would change this world forever?

And I…I celebrate the day that You…You were born to die,
So I could one day pray for you to save my life…
Pray for you to save my life…
Pray for you to save my life.”

What makes it all even more wonderful is that it is written in the Ben Fold’s Five--“Brick”--90’s--melancholy--piano--style that I absolutely love. I tear up every time.

The point is, however, is in the reflection. Am I different than I was a year ago? Have I pursued Him the way I so desperately wanted to? Do I take this season for granted; getting caught up in the materialism, or do I remember the simplicity of this supernatural event that changed the world forever?

It is my prayer that I will take every opportunity to reflect on His love and sacrifice for me, and that I will continue to pursue Him in the year to come. He is so worthy of the pursuit! As we worship Jesus this Christmas season, may He give us an deeper understanding of the gift He has given us.

aslan is on the move

In honor of the upcoming December '05 premiere of CS Lewis', "The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe", on the BIG screen, I have been re-reading the Chronicles of Narnia that I enjoyed so much as a child. I never owned the set, but instead borrowed them from the library. A few months ago, however, my mom found a boxed set at yard sale and brought them home to me. I was thrilled to own them at last! So I started out in September reading them, starting with "The Magician's Nephew" this time instead of TLTW&TW. Because it tells the tale of how Narnia began, new prints of the series are being re-numbered to begin with what had been the 6th book out of seven. I am enthralled, even more today than I was when I was a kid. A pale comparison would be that of the Looney Toons. When you watch them as a child you laugh at the sight gags and the shenanigans. As you get older, you laugh at the political satire and jokes only adults can understand. These books are much like that, because beyond the fantasy and obvious correlations with Scripture are the deeper spiritual truths. I was struck by one passage in particular while reading "Prince Caspian".

The whole story leads you to a battle in the end to restore the rightful King of Narnia, Prince Caspian. There is one valiant character, Reepicheep, who is a two foot tall talking mouse. He and his 11 companions are swordsmen and intensely loyal subjects. Reepicheep is pretty mouthy, and his speech is much larger than his stature. He is, of course, over-compensating for his size and because of all of the abuse he had suffered being the brunt of cheese and mousetrap jokes. But he is endearing and very brave, and fights almost to the point of death. Aslan (all I can say for those of you who have not read the series is that he is a lion and represents the Son of God in the story line. That's a pathetically sparse explanation, but I will leave it alone to save time. SEE THE MOVIE AND THEN READ THE BOOKS-PEOPLE!) has the little girl, Lucy, apply the magic cordial to his wounds, and he comes around, but only to realize that he's lost his tail. Here is the conversation that takes place. (Forgive me for the length! It's important!)

"It becomes you very well, Small One, " said Aslan.

"All the same," replied Reepicheep, "if anything can be done...perhaps her Majesty?" and here he bowed to Lucy.

"But what do you want with a tail?" asked Aslan.

"Sir," said the Mouse, "I can eat and sleep and die for my King without one. But a tail is the honour and glory of a Mouse."

"I have sometimes wondered, friend," said Aslan, "whether you do not think too much about your honour."

The next few lines consist of Reepicheep trying to defend his need for honor in a world that judges dignity in inches. Aslan notices something else.

"Why have your followers all drawn their swords, may I ask?" said Aslan.

"May it please your High Majesty," said the second Mouse, whose name was Peepiceek, "we are all waiting to cut off our own tails if our Chief must go without his. We will not bear the shame of wearing an honour which is denied to the High Mouse."

"Ah!" roared Aslan, "you have conquered me. You have great hearts. Not for the sake of your dignity, Reepicheep, but for the love that is between you and your people,

[WARNING WARNING WARNING! SLIGHT MOVIE SPOILER!]

and still more for the kindness your people showed me long ago when you ate away the cords that bound me on the stone table (and it was then, though you have long forgotten it, that you began to be Talking Mice), you shall have your tail again."

Here is why I am so thrilled with the passage that I highlighted in bold. It reminds me of the passage in Song of Solomon, chapter 4 verse 9 that reads "You have captured my heart, my sister, my bride." In studying SOS from the perspective of the book being a letter from Jesus to His Bride, that verse shows His great affection for us, just the way we are. In the story, Aslan knows Reepicheep well enough to know that pride sometimes gets the best of him, and he is called on it. Aslan knows his weakness. However, in his weakness, he sees the purity of his heart, and the hearts of his friends in the love that they have for one another. He is captured by the purity of Reep's motives and it draws even more affection from the great lion. He did not condone his pride issue, and in fact, continues in his final comments to disapprove. However, he shows mercy and restores his tail. I am convinced that mercy drew Reep closer to Aslan and inspired him to become more like Aslan more than the punishment he may have deserved.

And so it is with us. When we know our Lord as someone who accepts us in our weakness, who loves us unconditionally and completely, we are inspired to follow Him to the ends of the earth. It is love, not legalism, that transforms our hearts and minds and leads us to Christlikeness. In our pursuit of Him, it is the loves He gives us that sustains us, compels us, and teaches us to love others. A love like that could change the world...