For this writer, Christmas 2009 and all of its color and lights came and went in a flash. Christmas is my favorite time of the year and I feel like I missed it. Because Christmas flew past me like the Polar Express careening across the ice as it neared the North Pole, I must confess to some sorrow as a result. The sorrow I speak of comes from being too involved with staring into my 2009 backpack laden with burdensome "stuff" to fully breath in the joy of the season.

As you walk the final few feet of the 2009 towpath, what are you carrying in your backpack? Have you taken inventory to see if there is "stuff" that you can discard before crossing the road and joining the 2010 towpath? Is that backpack so heavy that you would like to strip it off and heave it into the canal with a splash, so as to continue on unburdened? Please be sure to first take that aforementioned inventory if you are contemplating executing the heave-ho. Yes, the "stuff" can sink to the bottom of the canal to be perused by the carp, suckers, and bullheads, but the prayers, hopes, and dreams need to be carried forth with you into 2010 -- especially so the prayers.

I allowed Jesus to carry my 2009 backpack, but the issue was that while walking with Him I kept peering into that pack to see all of the consternating "stuff" that was in it. He would say "be mindful of what is in there, but let me deal with it while you keep your eyes looking forward and upward."

And yet, it was like driving past a car wreck -- I just had to look as much as I didn't want to actually see. Despite the Lord's constant yet patient reminders, I kept peeking into that pack while He carried it for me. I kept looking and looking, and Christmas sped past with a multi-colored cacophony of glorious sound and light while I was peering in as opposed to looking forward and upward. Yes, I heard the Herald Angels sing as the Christmas train blew by. Yes, the stars were brightly shining and I would have seen them in all of their splendor had I been looking up instead of fretting about what was down in that backpack -- the backpack that the reason for the season and the bright and morning star assured me that He would carry if I would just let Him. Oh, I let Him carry that backpack, but I just had to keep looking in despite His kind, gentle urging against it...

Indeed, I saw the Christmas train coming. My daughter kept reminding me that it was coming at us and she was counting the days, as children are so skilled at doing. Didn't that train's headlight shine like yonder star drawing steadily near? I would see the beam drawing closer as I would occasionally lift my face out of the 2009 backpack -- yup, that very same backpack that King of Kings and Lord of Lords encouraged me not to obsess about.

Now, the desire is to chase after the end car as the conductor stands on the back deck and his lantern light fades away. I can run fast, but that train -- Christmas of 2009 -- has passed on into history. I heard the train's bells, smelled its cinnamon and chocolate smells, and was briefly awed by its lights as I glanced at it passing by through one eye as I continued to peer into that pack full of stuff with the other. I can almost hear my daughter saying "daddy, it's here" as I say "Ok, honey, let me just spend another minute looking at this very important stuff down in this backpack that Jesus is carrying for me. You know -- the one He told me to let Him worry about?" And, in that minute, Christmas came and went...

If there is a message that I can convey through this writing, it is this: let Jesus handle your worries. We all drag a weighty backpack as we stand at the doorway to 2010 but He, who came to this world as a human baby, is God enough to carry our burdens. His desire is for us to live life abundantly through Him. Jesus carried my backpack throughout the year as He does this very day -- but I did not heed His advice to refrain from lifting up the flap and looking in.

Give your life to Him. Give your all to Him. Don't let this world and its stuff overburden you. Thank you, Jesus, for carrying my backpack. I will endeavor to keep from looking in as we enter 2010 and will instead be looking forward and upward!