Finding Direction: The Wind Vane Chronicles

. . . The Christmas Spirit descended upon me at exactly (I looked at my watch) at 5:52 p.m. yesterday evening, after dark, on December 19, 2006 for the 2006 Christmas season.

I mean, I haven’t really been unhappy, but not exactly fully into the swing of things, either.  We’re in "brown" abode over here on Bay Street for one thing full of brown carpet, brown looking floors (they weren’t originally, but after years of tenants, look that way and feel that way – sorta sticky, you know), and of course, all the brown boxes.

There’s not a Christmas decoration or bow or wreath or anything in sight.  Just a small pile of Christmas cards on the window sill here next to me as that is the only surface left unfilled with too much "stuff."  That’s what happens when you move from a 1,950 sq. ft. house into a 1,600 sq. ft. apartment.  It’s really rather a nice size.  Just smaller than where we were before and not completely unpacked, either.

We haven’t really been doing any Christmas things, either.  Well, I have been listening to lots of good Christmas CDs several of you have sent, but that’s been the biggest Christmas thing I’ve done.

The CDs have all been great, BTW.  I’ve been impressed with the musical tastes of my readership/commentership here.  Very impressed.  And Tom was scoffing a bit, too.  He doubted that you all would meet with his high(?) – let’s just say eclectic – music standards.  But you’ve met mine for sure.  I even got three more yesterday from Greg that I haven’t had a chance to listen to yet, but he assures me they are really good and I believe him.  That’s because I had grave doubts about the first one he said he was sending a week or so ago, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and it turned out to be a great CD that I’ve listened to a whole bunch.

Donna surprised me and sent me two original discs of Christmas music that is a great collection of singers and songs and Tommy did an elaborate (sorry Greg, but hey) Christmas Mix for Dee all done up on the computer with a black cover and hand colored, glittery Christmas tree on it.  It’s really neat and most impressive.

Then I got the quiet CD from Danny Sims a couple of days ago with lots of mandolins, so that’s been one to listen to several times over already.  I love the song, "Mary Did You Know?" that’s on it.

So, all of that has helped and been good preparation, I’m sure.

But the actual Spirit of Christmas didn’t hit, like I say, until 5:52 p.m. C. S. T. yesterday and in the strangest of all places for that to happen.   

 You see . . . we weren’t out Christmas shopping or anything like that.  We did a bit (and all that we were going to do) last Wednesday afternoon after Tom took me to see the retinologist and I didn’t have to get the shot in my eye.  I was actually quite ecstatic over that happening so was in a very cheerful mood.  But not THE mood, if you know what I mean.  I mean, there’s good moods and happiness and then there’s the Christmas Spirit and they aren’t the same thing.

So what were we doing, you ask?  Why what every other true Christmas believer was not doing.  We were shopping for a front door to our house at the brand new second Home Depot in Slidell.

I’m tellin’ ya, if you can get the workers out on the job to do the framing, this is the time of year to build a house and get all the details worked out like doors and lights and floors and stuff.  We went to a brand new, very nice huge Home Depot and there were maybe six cars in the parking lot.  Well, okay, a few more than six, but not many at all.  And it was actually quiet inside except for the occasional high pitched beep going off on the nearest forklift the guys were taking turn riding around the store, more for fun than anything as far as I could tell.

We had the neat lady, Troy was her name (named after her grandfather’s last name – I guess they were expecting a boy), in the door department and got several quotes on some beautiful ones. 

So we’re sitting there leisurely talking and picking out sidelights and transoms when I hear Christmas music being crooned throughout the speaker system.  But that wasn’t quite when it happened.  It sorta, kinda entered my head that, hey, this is Christmas week, but then I went back to beveled glass.

But when we left there with all our quotes and brochures and started out of the store, I decided I needed to go to the lady’s room before we went to check out a brand new grocery store in town.  THAT’S when it hit.  I was walking past plumbing and electrical wires and stuff and I heard Silent Night being sung by a beautiful male voice sorta half way between Perry Como and Nat King Cole.  The chorus swelled with "Heavenly hosts sing ‘Alelujah’," and it hit full force.

It was wonderful.   Like hearing Josh Groban sing anything, but especially "O Holy Night," which I heard the other day and got just a glimpse of Christmas.  But now I have it fully and completely and wholly and holy, too.  The magnificence of what it’s all about.  How glorious was the birth of Jesus Christ, whenever it was, whatever time of year.  This is when Christians the world over celebrate it and I’m ready to join in the chorus.

I know – our serious family problem is still very much on my mind and in my heart.  I know that many people are sad and lonely this time of year and for those I know, I want to help.  And I know some.

I also know I’ve got an infected insulin pump site on my abdomen the past couple of days that I’m going to have to call my endocrinologist about in a couple of hours to see about coming in or getting some antibiotic, before I send up spending Christmas in the hospital with cellulitis or an abcess. 

But more than all of those things, I know that my Redeemer lives and lived among us as a tiny baby to start off with, small and completely vulnerable to the elements except for his mom and his dad.  They were a couple of scared young adults, no doubt, full of wonder and awe at what was happening to them in those perilous times.  And, my goodness, looked what lay ahead of them.  For her and for her son.

And I’m happy in Jesus Christ.  I’m happy about Christmas and all it means.  It’s finally happened and I’m glad.  I have the Christmas Spirit.