What more can a Christmas tree do?

I realize some of you are gasping with the unreal belief that there is a Christmas tree still up the end of January. Others are looking at the ornaments and wondering what they all say. Still there may be a few of you that have observed the partial shoulder and hair of someone on the extreme right. And some of you will see the crepe paper.  Very few of you are wondering, “what more can a Christmas tree do?” In our world, Christmas trees are for Christmas. A few of you over achievers, or perhaps idle hearts, prefer to keep the tree up for longer than the norm. I am one of those idle hearts. I love the beauty and the warmth of the Christmas tree. I didn’t grow up with the celebration of Christmas so I am making up for it in my “older years”.  One of our Christmas trees remain up for a long time, usually until the snow is melted. As one normally thinks, Christmas trees are for Christmas. Lights, tinsel, ornaments, bows and perhaps a star or angel top the tree. Last night, the Christmas tree became more. We went out to eat with a couple friends and came home to girls jumping out yelling ‘Happy Birthday’, and a couple hiding in the closet not sure when they should erupt with the joyous news. Streamers and banners criss crossed the walls entering the kitchen. And then there was the Christmas tree. It was there, so why not decorate it? Even the windmill on the top, alternate star option, had some crepe paper on it.

What more can your christmas tree do? I realize most of you don’t have one up anymore but we all have Christmas trees in our lives. Christmas trees represent things that are a singular focus or so we have made them that way.  Somehow, we make them a sacred cow of sorts.  We wouldn’t imagine using it for something else.  But if God gives us a Christmas tree, then God surely will put in our heart a way to transform it into others ways to enjoy and to bless people. Often we don’t serve others because we feel we don’t have anything to offer when in reality we all have Christmas trees in our kitchen just waiting to be decorated with crepe paper.  Some of you love to write cards. The old fashioned cursive on paper, envelope, stamp and mail kind of cards. Throw some crepe paper on that idea and write a note to a total stranger of encouragement. Put the note in your purse and next time you see someone who looks like they could use some crepe paper in their lives, hand them the note.   I realize that when people walk into church their body has a way of walking to the same place, walking in three steps and sitting down. What if you threw some crepe paper on that walk, turned left instead of right and sat by someone new. And just what if you then asked them to lunch when church was over?  That’s asking more than what a Christmas tree can do.  Jesus did that alot. He just went two steps beyond where the normal person stopped. Jesus listened to a few more sentences. Jesus picked up a few more children and stooped to help a few more who had fallen. Jesus had a way of doing more than what a Christmas tree can do!

We often do the expected; the norm. It’s a Christmas tree. It’s for Christmas. Get out of the box and see what more can a Christmas tree do! Look farther than the corner, listen for more than words, reach just another 6″ and turn the top book over to see what’s under it.  In a world where people are in such a hurry, leave the tree up in the corner and see what more it can do. Slow down and be intentional. Look for one more purpose for you being where God has placed you.  Exodus 33 tells us the story of Moses and Joshua at the tent of meeting. God would speak with Moses just like we would talk to each other. In this chapter, Moses returned to his tent but Joshua stayed. He didn’t leave. Joshua remained. Moses, the leader, the one who got to listen to God, walked home. Joshua found something else that a Christmas tree could do. He just stayed a bit longer where the presence of God had been. It doesn’t tell us anything else, except we know Joshua went on to do great things with God’s help.  All it tells us is that Joshua didn’t leave the tent.

So be a Joshua. Stay a bit longer and look for a reason God has for you where you are. Don’t be in a hurry to go on to the next Christmas tree in your life when there are still more things to put on the tree in front of you.  And don’t worry about what people will say. That crepe paper may be there for awhile. It will remind me that gifts come in all sizes and sizes and crepe paper on my Christmas tree is pretty special!