Poor Charlie Brown.
He wanted so badly to discover the true meaning of Christmas, but his friends were too caught up in their activities and busyness to hear his desperation. They decided the answer was to involve him in their craziness by having him direct a modernized version of the Christmas story. When that didn’t work out they sent him in search of a fancy, modern, high-tech tree.
Charlie Brown returned with the saddest-looking Christmas tree ever. Instead of understanding, he got more ridicule from his friends. He was more sure than ever that nobody understood the true meaning of Christmas.
Linus tried to help with his beautiful, iconic reading of Luke’s KJV Christmas story. And of course Linus was correct…Jesus’ birth IS the true meaning of Christmas. But we might learn something from this scene, because Charlie Brown undoubtedly knew the Christmas story. At that moment the last thing he needed was to have scripture quoted at him.
Charlie Brown was seeking something else, something his friends missed until the final scene. Finally, they got it.
It’s not about the decorations and it’s not about the tree or what’s under the tree.
For Charlie Brown, and for Jesus, Christmas is about the people around the tree.
Jesus didn’t show up so we could tell people about the reason for Christmas. He came so we could do what the Peanuts gang did for Charlie Brown. We get to show what Christmas is about by doing the things Jesus did.
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I’m grateful for our FREEDOM TOUR community and how they’ve gathered around 22 very special children at the HOME OF HOPE in New Delhi.
Human trafficking is a very big issue, one about which we’re passionate. However, rather than fighting “the issue” we’ve chosen to build a relationship with one specific group of kids and the staff who serve them. We “gather around the tree” with people we know and love.
These children are performing in their school’s Christmas program this week. I think each team member feels a tiny bit like a proud aunt or uncle as we imagine the experience of hope and freedom they enjoy.
You can join this incredible circle. Check out our web page (www.frontrangefreedomtour.org).
You can make an end-of-year donation that will go directly to the kids at the HOME OF HOPE.
Or maybe God’s nudging you to get out of your comfort zone and commit to riding your bike on an epic adventure on Colorado’s Front Range next summer.
Either way, we’re grateful to have you in the circle around our tree.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!