This past Wednesday we had a great turnout for Caroling in the Courtyard. Along with singing, part of the tradition is to watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas," created back in 1965 by Charles Schultz.
I have seen it so many times, starting in my early childhood. As an adult, I am amazed at how timely it still is. Charlie Brown is a kid who probably suffers with depression, and you might even say he is bullied by his peers. That alone makes this relevant in our decade because we talk about mental health and the problem of being bullied all the time.
Charlie Brown is also discouraged by the commercialism of Christmas. One might argue he is a bit more complex and mature for even recognizing this issue so early in his life. The first suggestion to help him with his depression is to be the director for a Christmas play. Not a bad idea, but it doesn’t help lighten his mood. The answer finally comes from his friend Linus, as he quotes from Luke 2.
As I watch this movie again, verses 10 & 11 jumped out at me. “I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people. 11 Your savior is born today in David’s city.”
Charlie needed good news. I don’t know if an elementary age kid can really understand the importance of this news. As an adult, I hear it as a proclamation that there is an answer to the problems of this world. It is also a declaration of an answer to the problems in my personal life.
Sitting outside in the courtyard, watching an old Christmas movie that points directly at the Son of God left me feeling safe and warm. I wish I always felt that truth in my life, but sometimes I don’t. Sometimes in the midst of the day-to-day struggles, it is hard to not lose sight of God’s faithfulness in the past. He is the answer to every problem we are all facing in this Christmas season. It was nice to have a little God moment, sitting on my lawn chair, with my St. Andrew's church family.
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