Thursday, 28 December 2006

Christmas Reflection

I thought it might be good to look back on Christmas, now that I've had a chance to reflect on it.

-Strangest Moment
Right when I woke up. I found a huge spot of cold water in the bed near my feet and panicked. For my readers, you can call laugh at me all you want and even accuse me of grade-school incontinence, but I am guilty of none of those. The air vent in my ceiling, on the other hand, may need a talking to. It started leaking on me in my sleep over break.

-Most Predicted Gift
I'm still asked for a wishlist by my family. I was a little late, but I did give them one. The thing I figured would most easily get under the tree was the book Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller. I found it, and it made me smile.

-Biggest Surprise
I got a new leather jacket! I guess it shouldn't surprise me-I killed my other one, although I prefer to say I loved it till it gave out. But that sounds weird. So yes, I killed it.

-Coolest Gift
The New Oxford Book of Carols. Yay! I have lots of music to sing!

-Funniest Gift
Stocking stuffers usually are a little sillier, but this year, the family really decided to pull some gags. The parents poked fun at my love of tuna and put two packets of Starkist in my stocking. I got them back with the Hope College potato chip clip in Dad's stocking.

-Most fun gifts to give
For Jordan, the Hulk Hogan DVDs were the best. He went nuts (yes, my brother and I are avid "wrassling" fans). For Mom, the Sound of Music was the most fun because she really, REALLY wanted this after visiting Salzburg, Austria. For Dad, the new Hope College apparel was the best-he's a UVA alum so he has no problem wearing the orange and blue.

-Christmas wish
Well, in talking with the Bible Studs, one of the things I had asked to be prayed over was that I'd be able to have some truly meaningful conversations. I've had that, and it was great. But even greater, something that I've neglected was praying in front of my family. It seems easier in front of the Studs, but why it's harder in front of my parents and Jordan, I'll never know. But I had the honor of praying over our Christmas dinner, and I prayed for more than just a blessing over the prime rib-I tried to let go of being "afraid" that my family think I'm strange and prayed more how I've tried to pray with others at Hope. I prayed that we'd actually see the greater meaning in Christmas, that we'd see the enormous worth in Christ coming to Earth to save people from their sins. I prayed that we'd remember that we're celebrating the beginning of all that. I haven't really done that before, and it was good. I prayed over the family dinner something besides the usual, almost bland "bless the food" stuff, and it was good. I only hope that it's not a flash in the pan.