The Blanket Drop (From A Charlie Brown Christmas)

When I sat down to write a Christmas time blog, it was to be about the specific topic that follows. Without seeking it out, an article from "Christian Living" by Jason Soroski landed in my inbox. I have adapted it for the purpose of this blog. Hope you enjoy it. 

Last December, 2015, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” aired on national primetime television for the 50th time. In a world where the latest, greatest technology is outdated in a matter of months, and social media trends come and go in a matter of days, 50 years of anything is quite meaningful.

In the “production,” Linus recites Luke 2:8–14 so beautifully. Then a very important thing occurs, which I never noticed for years.

Right in the middle of speaking, Linus "drops the blanket."

Charlie Brown is best known for his uniquely striped shirt and Linus is most associated with his ever-present security blanket. Throughout the story of Peanuts, Lucy, Snoopy, Sally and others, all try to no avail to separate Linus from his blanket. And even though his security blanket remains a major source of ridicule for the otherwise mature and thoughtful Linus, he simply refuses to give it up, …until this moment. When he simply drops it.

In that climactic scene when Linus shares what “Christmas is all about,” he drops his security blanket, and the most telling thing is the specific moment he drops it. It occurs when he speaks the words, “fear not.” It's almost like a "mic drop;" the key line is spoken and the mic drops.

Take a look at the following clip, specifically at :34 seconds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKk9rv2hUfA

It’s pretty clear what Charles Schulz was saying through this, and it’s so simple that it’s brilliant.

• The birth of Jesus separates us from our fears.
• The birth of Jesus frees us from the habits we are unable or unwilling to break ourselves.
• The birth of Jesus allows us to simply drop the false security we have been grasping so tightly, and learn to trust and cling to Him instead.

The world of 2016-2017 can be a scary place, and most of us find ourselves grasping something temporal for security, whatever that thing may be. Essentially, this is a world in which it is very difficult for us to “fear not.”

But in the midst of fear and insecurity, this simple cartoon image from 1965 continues to live on as an inspiration for us to seek true peace and true security in the one place it has always been and can always still be found.

God who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him (Christmas) up for us all--how will He not also, along with Jesus, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32

So, go ahead and trust God. Go ahead and “fear not.” Go ahead and drop the blanket.

Love Your Neighbour

Saturday, June 11, 2016 was Neighbour Day throughout Kitchener Waterloo, a great city initiative to meet people and share a few hours together.

Did you take the opportunity to enjoy the shared experience? It was wonderful! So much of the best of our community: friendship, working together, experiencing fun together, in a word: love. Everywhere you looked, there was genuine value and active honour being placed on people who were not necessarily family or even close friends, but rather relative strangers. Our only common denominator is that we all co-exist and do life on these streets of our city. Therefore, we are related; that makes us neighbours.

While we hope the "Love your neighbour" sentiment of Neighbour Day continues all year long, you and I can do our active part to ensure it happens. Love your neighbour is not only a sentiment, it is a new way to be human. It is the way Jesus challenged us to live. It is the horizon aspect of the complete "T" that Jesus was about: vertical - Love God, horizontal - Love your neighbour. Let's live complete lives by doing both.  

DO NOT BE AFRAID

Have you ever seen someone do something death-defying? Recently, in a social media photo, my cousin posted a pic of herself performing a running "happy kick" over the thinnest sliver of "Devil's Bridge" in Sedona, Arizona. Her caption was so appropriate: "DOING IT AFRAID!" 

It's a true statement... We do so many fearful-to-us things (because, for whatever reason, we need to do them), but we "do it afraid." Pause for a minute and think of an example in your own life......

Then we come to the Christmas Story, when on three occasions, supra-beings from Heaven (angels) interact with non-special beings from earth (humans). Each time the higher says to the lower: "Do Not Be Afraid." Alright Mr. "I'm so insightful and seemingly unaware of your feelings," what are you going to do about the source of my fear?

• In Mary's case in Luke 1, she is still afraid due to everything in life that is about to change, all of it out of her control. Instead of planning her wedding, to become a wife, now she will be planning a birth, to become a Mom, maybe, without a husband. Would Joseph ever understand this bit of news?
• In Joseph's case in Matthew 1, he is still afraid of what people in his culture are going to think and say and maybe even do when they find out that his fiancé is pregnant, even if he tries to convince them he didn't father the child.
• And in the shepherds’ case in Luke 2, they are afraid (terrified is the word) because it’s a big ole’ angel who’s talking to them! An angel talking to shepherds? They know their own status. They’re outsiders, the paid-to-camp zookeepers, watching their flocks, even at night.

In each story, the source of fear is still intact however, in each case, the Heaven-beings had information that changed everything. Good news to change views.

• To Mary: This child to be born will be the world’s reigning King with a Kingdom that will break into this broken world. And Mary, He is your King.
• To Joseph: This son will be God in the flesh, God with us, coming to rescue everyone. And Joseph, He is God with you, and He is coming to rescue you.
•  To the shepherds: This child WHO HAS ALREADY BEEN BORN is the Messiah. And yes, He has been born for you because you matter to God.

God has something so much more for us than a hope that we will “do it afraid.” When He says, “Do not be afraid,” He steps up as the reason we can respond with authenticity and actually possess no fear because He is more... than the source of fear and He is greater than fear itself.

What are you afraid of? Talk with God about it. Let the story of His Son wrap itself around your heart until the fear is gone. He is your Saviour and He is with you. “Do not be afraid.” ...No, really. Do not be afraid.

LOVED... EVEN WHEN WE MISS

Have you ever blown it… big?

•    Maybe a job interview for that “perfect position” and you said things you never intended to
•    A relationship that was never supposed to end but crashed and burned because of something you said or did, or didn’t say or do
•    Maybe a horrible financial decision that took a long time to recover from, or maybe you haven’t yet
Have you missed the goal so badly you feel like a complete failure? Has that failure defined you; made you look at yourself as someone who will never succeed at anything significant?

A few Novembers ago, a College football team in South Carolina, the Clemson Tigers, were in a must win game to continue their season. Down 14-28 in the third quarter, they came back to tie 28-28 with about one minute to go in the game. Clemson’s field goal kicker, Chandler Catanzaro had an opportunity to win the game with a 30-yard field goal. For a College kicker, that’s similar to a basketball lay-up. Everything lined up well, but Chandler missed it. How do you think he felt? These are his words: "like a failure and overwhelmed." 

If you were in his shoes, would you rather run to the sidelines or out of the stadium?

When you blow it, would you rather go to the church to deal with the pain or go elsewhere to try to escape it? Would the church make the pain go away?

In the dying moments of the game, Clemson’s defense gave the ball back to the offense. Chandler got a second chance but now it was from 43 yards out. The problem was that confidence in Chandler was leaking. Few people believed in him now: the fans, his teammates, his coaches, and even Chandler himself. There was one exception… Clemson’s Head Coach Dabbo Sweeney. As Chandler took the field Dabbo said: “We can win it now or we can win it in overtime. I would prefer we win it now. But whether you make this kick or miss this kick does not matter. I’m your Coach and I love you and I’ve got your back.” Believe it or not, he missed again! HE DID NOT! HE MADE THE KICK and Clemson won the game!

Chandler went on to the NFL 3 years later and in his rookie year broke a NFL record by making his first 17 consecutive field goal attempts. He is one of the best in the sport at his position and in the month of November 2015, Chandler kicked a field goal in the dying seconds to win a big game, at the highest level in football.

A mistake does not have to define you for the rest of your life. The power of someone greater loving you and believing in you can turn around the worst moment in your life.

That is the gospel of Jesus. God’s love and forgiveness covers our failure. 
•    More than our failure is God’s love
•    More than our pain is God’s comforting friendship

Believe in the “Coach” who never gives up on His pursuit and commitment to walk beside us through everything. Invite Jesus into your failure and pain. Then dream… and try… and never give up on a life of significance. Someone has your back. Live life for only His approval already gained through the cross because we're loved... even when we miss.