Celebrating Christmas for What it Is

I'm not really into the Christmas "thing". It's not a spirit. It's not even true to its origin. It has morphed into this beast that demands we buy millions of dollars of stuff for people who (to a degree) feel a sense of entitlement to those gifts because they are inundated by the media with images of the next best thing.

As for celebrating Christmas . . . before my feet hit the floor -DAILY- I thank my Creator for having sacrificed so much that I may live on this planet and experience peace.

• That peace that allows you to watch the sun rise and feel the warmth and connection to God.
• That peace that makes your day feel joyous simply from a baby's laugh.
• That peace in knowing all those things that vex our society is being monitored by a God who is merciful and gives us so many chances to get it right.

Last Friday, as I drove home, it was raining pretty hard. I was focused on the slick road, knowing it was too wet to drive too fast.

As I drove down I-35E North, I noticed from out of my left peripheral, something coming near my car. Before I could even acknowledge what it was, I was sailing across three lanes. Actually, it was sort of rhythmical.

As my car was hit it began spinning, almost in slow motion, to the opposite side of the highway. As I stared into the beams of a semi truck rapidly coming toward me I had a weird sense of calm.

From nowhere I literally heard, "Let go and relax". I didn't question it. I immediately let go of the wheel, relaxed my body and thought, "Well, if this is it God . . . here I come".

The impact from a van entering the highway stopped my car and prevented me from tumbling over the exit ramp. That impact also brought me out of my composed state.

As I sat there wondering what hit me and where it went, I screamed unintelligibly into the phone to the 911 operator. "I've been hit and I'm on the highway facing the wrong way and the cars won't stop THEY WON'T STOP AND THE BASTARD THAT HIT ME DIDN'T EVEN STOP. HE DIDN'T EVEN STOP!!!!!!!"

Luckily the driver of the van (an angel) stepped out to see if I was all right. He helped me identify my location and brought to my attention that the person who hit me had flown off of the road as well and was about a block up the street.

While giving directions to the 911 operator, I sensed her frustration in me not knowing where I was and my erratic state of mind. Having been a 911 operator (for a short season in life) I could not get mad. I thanked her as she said, "Help is on the way" and abruptly hung up.

My assumption that I had been hit by someone who fled the scene and immediate assumption that it was a man made my stomach turn. The young woman, 19 years old, luckily was not hurt. She and the van driver left the scene unharmed. My car will be out of the shop in 2 to 3 weeks. I didn't have so much as a bruise.

While waiting in the rain for the tow truck I was talking with my friend Frankie. I had text messaged a group to let them know what had happened because I knew I would need help.

As Frankie and I talked I shared with her a revelation I had.

I told her how I realize sometimes God will turn us around and upside down to get us to realize those things that have come to pass should remain behind us.

This revelation was brought on because as I was driving home that evening I had an ex-boyfriend on my mind. I haven't seen or heard from this man in years. Yet, he was heavily on my mind. I couldn't understand why, but while thinking about him, in a fleeting moment of insanity, I thought "Where would we be had we stayed together". About that same time the object in my peripheral careened into my car.

Where am I going with this? Well, it wasn't Sony, LG, WalMart, Target, Tiffany nor any other major store chain who gave me the revelation that evening; sparing me from impacting with a semi, or put laughter in my voice after that jarring experience. Yet, during this season of celebrating God's greatest gift we are killing ourselves to get into stores to buy crap that will have no value to anyone should tragedy strike.

- My gift to my nieces and nephews is the unconditional commitment to them as a mentor, safe haven and compassionate ear.
- My gift to my sisters and brothers is helping them in their pursuit to develop compassionate, loving children who will be elated to give back to society. As well as loving them unconditionally because they are dynamic people who are so deserving.
- My gift to my friends is to constantly be there, let them know when they're being irrational and to listen to them when I can't pull it together. Oh, and to accept their wacky gifts! (Liz, I do love the hangers. But . . . HANGERS?!)
- My gift to my community and society is to unselfishly continue to make a positive difference on this planet. I am one person, therefore I will do my part with the gifts I've been given.
- My gift to my mate is to keep myself sane, happy, healthy and focused knowing those are traits he possess' and desire.

I pray everyone has a spectacular Christmas with the knowledge that fir trees, tinsel, glass bulbs and pretty packages have NOTHING to do with this holiday. Because if you or the recipient dies December 26^th . . . .

Praise God for salvation and have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!