Back to Basics

Have you noticed that sometimes even a good thing gets so far out that we must stop, take a deep breath and go back to the basics? Do you ever feel that Xmas is at this stage? Don't get me wrong, I am probably one of the biggest offenders (for lack of a better word). However, in the quiet of the morning while thinking back to why we are celebrating Xmas I can't help but wonder if this is what God had in mind when he sent his son.

That reflection raised these thoughts. For Jesus' birthday, there were no feasts, stacks of presents, lavish parties, etc. It was a very awesome day. Not even a bed to lay him in. Yet based on that day's event, we as Christians believe we were given the gift of eternal life. Think back to each of the gifts you received, did any of them give you such an awesome promise? It made me think that we should do further soul searching on how would Jesus want to celebrate his birthday? Would it be with overspending, overeating, jealousy that someone got more or better gifts than we did, partying to the point of drunkeness, just focusing on the entirely different concept than Jesus had in mind for "HIS" birthday party. Has it become "OUR" party? If so, can we give the same gifts he does? Can we give patience, charity, unselfishness, and all those other virtues he so generously bestows?

What if there was just one town in this world that chose to celebrate Jesus' birthday as he would choose? How would they do it? My thoughts are that they would spend their time and money celebrating family, orphans, elderly and those less fortunate. I don't think there would be drunken parties, credit cards maxed out, jealous confrontations, etc It made me stop and ask myself how would I feel if I were Jesus?

Do we need to go back to basics?