By Chris and Stacy Bates
Outside
Darby came home to us just a few months ago. There is nothing like the experience and joy that go along with a new 10-week-old puppy. Besides the playfulness and fun, there is also a fascination with newness. During the first few weeks, much of our time was spent in the backyard with her discovering, learning, and enjoying. She couldn’t explore enough.
Learning everything about her was new for us, also, and for her, every little thing in the world and in her new surroundings was amazing. The distractions of the big world went away for us during backyard time, and we got to just play and watch intently. Her energy was endless, as were our laughs, when she would bark ferociously while wrestling with a stick or chew toy. Every rock, pinecone, and bug was important and held curiosity, beauty, and simplicity.
In
There is a great lesson from that backyard time that is contrary to how we as people view the complexities of life and our surroundings. Regardless of our roles, our lives are busy and intricate. With the best of intentions, each of us is preoccupied with tasks, needs, and daily functioning in our modern world. The screen in our hand keeps our minds whirling even when we are not in a meeting, picking up dinner, or planning the next event.
Adding to the always-on level of activity, the holidays bring more involvement and circumstance. We feel added responsibilities. Whether it is finding the right presents or figuring out how to deal with family dynamics, there always seems to be more. Yes, we know the real reason for the season, but that does not keep the distractedness away. There is much that takes our time and bandwidth.
Message
Similar to Darby’s child-like perspective, there is simplicity and wonderment for all of us in the most profound of stories in this season. Jesus was born to simple people in a simple, humble place. God freely gave the ultimate joy to us and did so in meager and unpretentious surroundings with deep significance. For those who witnessed the manger, and for all of us since, it is the greatest of simple messages.
Not only was there no guest room available, but there was no royal announcement or parade. Shepherds were the audience. We can follow their lead from Luke 2:17, which says, “they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.” It was an amazing newness that only God could have created, and our busy minds can forget to see it that way.
As one of our 3-year-old grandsons reminds us often about our playtime with him, we should have a singular focus, right here, right now. We can choose to be motivated by the simple yet profound message of Christ’s birth. Joy is in the seemingly small things – and in receiving the gift we are given, we can have the new perspective of a child, which is what each of us actually is … a child of God.
Chris and Stacy Bates live in Madison and have adult children and three grandboys. Chris is CEO of Agora Eversole, a full-service marketing agency in Jackson, and can be reached at Chris@AgoraEversole.com.