A Covid Christmas

Ok - bit of a disclaimer on this one...it’s supposed to be humorous and a bit of a play on some of the more restrictive guidance out there.  Everyone’s situation is different, so be safe out there...

A Covid Christmas

My yard decorations must be six feet apart

Gotta set a good example even with art

You know someone’s looking and will judge your virtue

By how much you put into these signals that won’t necessarily protect you

I guess it’s Christmas and I’ll  spend it alone.  I surely can’t let anyone in my home

Sorry friends, family, you’re on your own

I can see your tears - they must be of joy

Trading loneliness for what should be safe

It’s a Covid Christmas.

Carolers keep your distance and don’t you dare sing.  I ain’t the only Scrooge saying these things.  I’m going to have to shoo y’all away.  Can’t have y’all singing out here because you could spread more than your cheer...

I guess it’s Christmas and I’ll spend it alone.  I surely can’t let anyone near my home

Sorry friends, family, you’re on your own

I can see your tears - they must be of joy

Trading seasons greetings for what may be safe

It’s a Covid Christmas.

I’ve got sniffles and scratchy things down in my throat...no it ain’t a virus it’s this turkey i’ve smoked.  It’s chewy and crunchy and dry as a bone.  No experience required, I made it alone.  now i ain’t a chef - thank goodness you say or the meat wouldn’t be the only thing fired today...

I guess it’s Christmas and I’ll  spend it alone.  I surely can’t let no one in my home

Sorry friends, family, you’re on your own

I can see your tears - they must be of joy

Trading quality cuisine for what could be safe

It’s a Covid Christmas.

That sound that I hear better not be deer on the roof, those elves and their toys, I bet they ain’t virus proof.   Santa your bushy beard it don’t fit in that mask.  Sorry buddy You know I hate to ask

Could you not come down my chimney today...the tree it ain’t barely six feet away.  

I guess it’s Christmas and I’ll  spend it alone.  I surely can’t let no one in my home

Sorry friends, family, you’re on your own

I can see your tears - they must be of joy

Trading the festive for what may be safe

It’s a Covid Christmas.

Words on a Page

Hey man - I’m trying to listen to what you’re saying, I’m trying to understand the point you’re trying to make...but you aren’t making sense and my day is wasting away.... it seems like we just can’t get this right.  This conversation’s going nowhere, where did this go wrong

it’s important that we listen

It’s important that we take the time

It’s important that we show where there’s some common ground to find.

What separates can break our hearts but love’s a better way.  We’ve got to find a way to show Jesus’ love lives in us instead of just words on a page.

It’s amazing the amount of crap we can spew

In so few words and actions.  We come up so short in all of life’s big moments when we focus on little hills rather than the bigger mountains...Sometimes words just aren’t enough - we need a double helping of grace...

Because it’s important that we listen

It’s important that we take the time

It’s important that we show there’s some common ground to find.

What separates can break our hearts but love’s a better way.  We’ve got to find a way to show Jesus’ love lives in us instead of just words on a page.

There’s so much information creating overload

So many talking heads parading in front of a camera lens.  It’s hard to tell sometimes where our differences begin and end.  People working hard to argue, our internet warriors with so little handle on tact and truth - typing insults on the fly.  Don’t let gentleness lose its voice in the clutter - as we fight to win and never hear each other...

(Interlude)

So when I stumble over what I’m trying to say

And nothing comes out the way I’d want it to sound.  Forgive me friend for my stubborn tongue...

it’s important that we listen

It’s important that we take the time

It’s important that we show there’s some common ground to find.

What separates can break our hearts but love’s a better way.  We’ve got to find a way to show Jesus’ love lives in us instead of just words on a page.

Behold our King

The angel’s words
The shepherds heard
Were more than just a fable 
For the shepherd’s hope
The shepherd’s joy
Lay before them in a stable

So go and tell the world this day

How he holds your heart

A gentle king born humbly

To capture what was lost

Go and tell the world this day

How heaven came to earth 

The angel’s words

The virgin birth

Breaks the path of sin 

Begun in Adam

Hope made new 

Salvation from above

So go and tell the world this day

How he holds your heart

A gentle king born humbly

To capture what was lost

Go and tell the world this day

How heaven came to earth

The star leads way

From the east they say

For travelers from afar

Bearing gifts of gold

Frankincense and myrrh 

For a new king was born

So go and tell the world this day

How he holds your heart

A gentle king born humbly

To capture what was lost

Go and tell the world this day

How heaven came to earth

The word made flesh

From birth to death

Never faltered never wavered

A humble king

The love of God

From manger to our savior

So go and tell the world this day

How he holds your heart

A gentle king born humbly

To capture what was lost

Go and tell the world this day

How heaven came to earth

So with the angels sing - behold our king

The heavens make way - behold our king

Dear Santa

Dear Santa, normally I’d ask for toys and stuff
but things are different this year
I’m not asking for anything.  

What I hope you get and what we can’t forget 

Is there are more important things

Like faith and hope and family, important things you don’t find under a lighted tree.

Dear Santa, those cookies won’t be there this year.  They’re the last thing you need and I confess We live in a world that’s paralyzed with fear.  We’ve left our hope in earthly things and things that never last.  We’re petrified that we’re not in control and that we cannot mask.

Dear Santa, I know this is outside your purview

You aren’t God and you aren’t Jesus

So pardon a moment if It seems I bypass you

I mean, I know elves are fun and flying reindeer are super cool - but they aren’t really real.

My world inside and out turned upside down by more serious things.  I know you can’t help set things right anew - so I know who to turn to.

Dear Jesus, I know you aren’t Santa Claus

Not a myth, not a fable - not some phantom in the north.  A hurting world needs your love That I pray they won’t ignore.  So  bring love, bring your heavenly peace.  To hearts that desperately need hope this year and a dose of your good cheer.  Dear Jesus.

Fix My Eyes

 If I put my trust in broken things

Those broken things will disappoint me

You’d think I’d learn, but time and again 

I fall into traps I might as well have set myself

When I wander off without you

So fix my eyes on things that matter

Things that cut to the heart 

Of the way things need to be

So plant my hope

Beyond the things that urgently beckon

And tomorrow are forgotten

Sometimes we stand so close it’s hard to see

These lines and shapes seem like a hopeless mystery.

But stepping back reframes our view

Puts it all in perspective so we see the masterpiece anew

So fix my eyes on greater things.  Let me not be dissuaded when things don’t go my way

Set my heart, beyond myself to greater things

Things that last beyond my years, things that matter.

When my time reaches full

When I’ve lived out my days

May I be remembered for the way I’ve run this race.  

May I be an example through and through

Of a life marked by grace, of love, and covered in truth

So fix my eyes on things above.  

Don’t let me be distracted by things that have no value.  Set my heart, to treasure what should be treasured and let go of lesser things.  

Fix my eyes on greater things...

Oh fix my eyes on greater things.

Get On With It

 Get on with it

I’m just waiting for the weekend, I’m just waiting for a break.  I’m waiting to take that next step, or to get on with that thing.  I’ve been waiting for the right time, because it’s the wrong time or a bad time, Seems like I been waiting for a long time..... 

Sometimes you’ve gotta get on with it

Put one foot in front of the other and carry on

Life’s for the living - let’s not let it pass by.

So let’s get on with it.  

Decisions are hard and they have consequences - what I do today could be a homerun or fall short of those fences.  I could catch a break or could land on my face.  But I’ll never know either way if I’m always saving it for another day.

Sometimes you’ve gotta get on with it

Put one foot in front of the other and carry on

Life’s for the living - not for waiting to die 

So let’s get on with it.  

Let’s not miss the present waiting for that thing that never comes...let’s not miss the satisfaction of seeing that dream get done...

Come on now let’s get on with it.  Put one foot in front of the other and carry on.  Let’s put life back in gear and start moving again.  Life is for the living let’s not let it pass by.  Maybe it’s time to get on with it

Far Side of the Valley

"Far side of the Valley"

Staring across the distance – we can barely see the other side from here

As we set out across uncharted lands, across challenges we don’t control

We’ve got our roadmap and we’ve got our plans, our sense of adventure and a noble goal

They say the grass is greener – but we can see more than that,

While our eyes behold more a vision than a picture, we know what we see is good

And so we set off for that which lies beyond the fog and clouds, on the far side of the valley.

It’s easy to say we anticipated some steep climbs.  It’s fair to say we expected some rough going.

Like all of life’s adventures, it’s taken a while for the uncertain to become clear

What once seemed flat has dropped so fast we’ve lost sight of the top.

We’re frightened and we’re timid – afraid to take many more steps.

From here it seems so far to the peak – It’s hard to press on when we’ve lost our view.

But we’ll get there okay if we focus on the promise of what we saw, on the far side of the valley

So breathe it in, God’s grace in this breath.

Breathe it in – full mercy in this air.

Breathe it in – there’ll be joy in overcoming a mount that seemed so steep

When we reach the far side of the valley, we’ll be on our way back up

Knowing perhaps the worst is behind us, at least with any luck.

On the far side of the valley having climbed one of life’s great hills

There’s more on the horizon – we’ll tackle those tomorrow, but for now we’ll just be still

And when it seems there’s miles to go and the ground climbs too fast

Continue on – we will never walk alone

And when it feels like such soft sand, every step is hard to take,

Continue on – there’s always a way home. 

On the far side of this valley – we’ll forget the smaller trials

While we may have spent some time crawling, we’ll know it’s been worthwhile.

There’s things we’ve learned on this narrow path, winding through these hills.

That have left us awed and wondering – left us to be still.

And breathe it in, God’s grace in this breath.

Breathe it in – full mercy in this air.

Breathe it in – the joy of overcoming a mount that seemed so steep

On the far side of this valley – let’s not forget the miles he’s walked.

How heaven sent its mighty king to ransom what was lost.

Our cuts and scrapes may leave us feeling beaten and bruised

But light takes hold as we see the dawn break on an empty cross and tomb

On the far side of this valley, it all becomes so clear – how the God of Heaven

Bridged a gap that allows us to draw near

So breathe it in, God’s grace in this breath.

Breathe it in – full mercy in this air.

Breathe it in – the joy of overcoming a mount that seemed so steep

On the far side of this valley – he’s prepared a place for you.  Take a moment to take it all in

And breathe…