Eagle's Wing - January 8, 2012

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Published on Wednesday, 30 November -0001 00:00

EAGLE’S WINGS

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

Happy Epiphany! That’s right…according to our Christian calendar its Epiphany, because last Thursday was the last day of Christmas. But before we get into all that, how many really felt that last week was still Christmas, or at least the Christmas season? How many realized the twelve days of Christmas begin on Christmas day and continued eleven days afterwards―not the twelve days before Christmas.

On the other hand, according to our civil calendar, Christmas was over a day or two after December 25th. Hence, the lights were down, the music had changed, and the red hearts, signaling Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, were up, and the race was on to buy more stuff!

We are in a constant struggle between our civil calendar and our religious ones, and what each promises. Our civil calendars have been molded into seasons of consumerism, each bleeding into the next without pause. As soon as the Christmas wrapping paper is discounted, the candy hearts and paper cards for Valentine’s Day begin to appear, followed quickly by St. Patrick’s Day shamrocks and leprechauns, chased by Easter’s bunnies and candies. Then, it’s onto Mother’s Day bouquets, Memorial Day sales, Father’s Day ties, Fourth of July fireworks and hot dogs, back-to-school sales and Labor Day clearances. Halloween begins in September, Thanksgiving in October, Christmas in November. 

Our civil, consumer calendar offers us no break in the buying season, no chance to reflect, to pause, to celebrate, to truly linger over the many ways God breaks in the world and our lives. Our Christian calendar on the other hand offers us a chance to resist absolute conformity to the timetables of consumerism, to push back against a culture that requires us to find our worth in things, to stand defiantly against a calendar that hurries us past meaningful pauses and refuses to let us rest in peace. Our Christians calendar is a reminder that our time is precious and should be savored rather than offered for sale.

 

Happy Epiphany!

Pastor Mark