Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you:
You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Luke 2: 11 (NIV)

A month away, and it could be different this year.

Really, it could.

But it will probably depend on where we look as we move through the next few weeks.

But really, it could be different this year.

“…You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

A month away, and the crushing busyness of the season has already begun. The Friday after Thanksgiving, just a few days ago, began with an armload of newspaper inserts of sales you couldn’t miss, stores opening at midnight and other unseemly hours welcoming bargain hunters, and with lines forming for days to take advantage of once-in-a-lifetime bargains you couldn’t do without.

Society has dubbed it as “Black Friday”—signifying a retailer’s reliance on that particular day of the year to get their “bottom-line” for the year into the black—dollar-wise. Yes, that one day having, they hope, that impact, for the year. Really.

But it could be different this year.

“…You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

A month away, and somewhere children are going to school in clothes unwashed for weeks. With just a few pair of underwear, if they’re the lucky ones. With a pair of shoes, again, if they’re the fortunate ones. It’s the only clothes and shoes they have. Going out and participating in the sales of “Black Friday” wasn’t even a blip of a consideration for the heads of their household in that family, for obvious reasons. Yet even for them, it’s still just a month away, too.

And it could be different this year.

“…You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

A month away, and somewhere a person is looking to find enough money to buy another car or house for their collection. It’s the only place they know where to look to feel better. Really.

But it could be different this year.

“…You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

A month away, and somewhere households are putting up lights for the season. Climbing trees and onto rooftops—the sparkle they will give off will add something to our neighborhoods, streets, schools and communities. And most importantly to our hearts.

Lights which could remind us of the one true Light, if we stopped long enough standing in, and enjoying, their reflection to see where their rays were pointing.

It really could be different this year.

“…You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

It really could be different, and it will all depend on where we look.

In His Name—Scott