Merry Christmas! 2006

Merry Christmas everyone!

We didn't send out traditional "snail mail" Christmas cards, so here
is our email Christmas card... complete with a family picture, and a
link to our Singing Christmas Card, where you can hear Thea and
Cirdan singing some songs.

Christmas is a wonderful time of year. The spirit of giving that
seems to pervade our often ego-centric culture is refreshing. It
has been fun watching our kids as they slowly catch on to what
Christmas is. Mostly, it seems, they "feel" it more than they
"know" what it is. And whether that excited feeling comes from the
immature wish to get presents, or a spiritual closeness with the
angels, doesn't really matter to me right now, it's just plain fun.

The best way, I've found, to explain Christmas to our kids, is that
it's the Lord's birthday. Thea especially knows what birthdays are,
and so she can imagine the fun ahead as we celebrate that day. (She
keeps asking if there will be cake!) But what is really cute is
watching the kids' reactions to the concept that the Lord was once a
baby! Both Thea and Cirdan really love to see (and hold) the
representations of the Baby Jesus. It never occurred to me before
now, that part of what is special about Christmas for children, is
that it brings the Lord to their level. As adults we know the
importance of picturing God as a Human Being that we can relate
to. Isn't it wonderful then that even children, especially at
Christmas, can find a way to relate to God, and know (feel) that He
understands them. It's amazing to think that Jesus was once a two
year old, and a three year old. Since He was God, and was victorious
over temptation, He must not have thrown temper tantrums. What a
great role model for all toddlers! It's a strange part of Jesus'
life, that we will never really know about. But somehow it's
wonderful to know that it happened.

Of course, most of the time (for the rest of the year), it's
appropriate for children to think of the Lord as a Parent figure.
Someone who will take care of them, and protect them. But then
that's appropriate for us adults too. And that leads me to my next
thought:

One of the ways that I most commonly picture the Lord, is as a sort
of Santa Claus figure. A big, jolly, generous, old
Grandfather! (Not so much the red and white winter gear, just the
face and form.) Someone who takes care of everyone in the whole
world. Sort of like the image of the Lord in Revelation: "He was
wearing a long robe with a gold sash across His chest. His head and
His hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And His eyes were
bright like flames of fire.... and his voice thundered like mighty
ocean waves.... And his face was as bright as the sun in all its
brilliance." (Rev. 1:13-16) But also a little more approachable,
like this: "His eyes, how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little
mouth was drawn up like a bow, and the beard on his chin was as white
as the snow.... He had a broad face and a little round belly, that
shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly. He was chubby and
plump, a right jolly old elf, and I laughed when I saw him, in spite
of myself." (Clement Clarke Moore)

In Revelation, John was afraid of God at first, but I tend to be
drawn more to the idea that God would inspire joy and laughter in
us. "A wink of his eye and a twist of his head soon gave me to know
I had nothing to dread." (Clement C. Moore) "Don't be afraid! I
am the First and the Last.... Look, I am alive forever and ever!"
(Rev. 1:17-18) I like to picture the Lord as a 65 year old Jesus
Christ, Who is in that wonderful Grandparent phase of life, and
spends His time doting upon His children and grandchildren with hugs,
kisses, and gifts. Jesus Christ in His Golden Age of Love and
Wisdom. That's the image of God that I love to pray to. That's the
image of Jesus Christ that I want to be created in the image of.

Tirah and I have been trying to decide what to tell our kids about
Santa. In the Christian world, Santa Claus has traditionally been at
odds with the story of the Lord's birth. But I believe that the Santa
Claus mythology (like many other fairy tales) is sort of like a
parable. And any goodness in stories like that, is ultimately from
God. I like the idea of a generous, omniscient, omnipresent man who
comes into our world from far away, and brings warmth and joy to a
world enveloped in cold (at least in the Northern Hemisphere). To be
clear about our primary focus, we are going to tell our kids that the
gifts in the stockings are from the Lord. But though Santa Claus is
not "THE" Christmas story, I'm not opposed to him being "A" Christmas
story. It's a nice parable.

The Lord is for everyone, for all seasons, and it's wonderful to
imagine Him in all His various forms, from "no hair" to "white
hair!" As He said, "I am the First and the Last."

Happy Birthday Jesus! Thank You for being born a little Child, as
well as being our Divine Parent. Thank You for bringing joy to our
lives!

Love from,
Solomon, Tirah, Thea and Cirdan Keal.

P.S. To listen to Thea and Cirdan singing in our Singing Christmas
Card go to http://www.solomonkeal.com/listen/studio and scroll to the
very bottom of the page.