Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ -- son of God who is fully God and my Lord and Savior. Over the years Christmas has become commercialized and politically corrected to the point that it is no longer the celebration of the birth of Jesus for far too great a segment of our secular culture. Christmas has become less about Jesus and instead about gifts, trees, lights, ornaments, and money.

I have to admit that while I celebrate Christmas as the birth of my Lord and Savior, I do enjoy the festive atmosphere of the season. I love the smell of cinnamon and the taste of pumpkin pie. I enjoy the cold and the snow. I truly enjoy Christmas music; especially recordings by Manheim Steamroller, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Bing Crosby, and Elvis Presley. And oh, how I love the lights and the colorful ornaments!

Red, green, silver, and gold: those colors are most commonly viewed as traditional for Christmas. I get lost in the beauty of shiny glass ornaments as they reflect the multi-colored lights of the Christmas trees that I have decorated over the last decade. As of earlier this year I am divorced, and with that are gone the Christmas trees and lights that I so enjoyed. I'll miss the shiny garland, the glimmering stars that topped the trees, and those reflective ornaments and colorful, glowing lights. I'll miss watching Sunday Night football during the Christmas season -- which for me begins the day after Thanksgiving -- with all of the lights turned off except for those broadcast from the trees. It was a cozy, comfortable, and relaxing experience. Sure, I'll still be watching Sunday Night (and day) football, but the atmosphere now is significantly different than that which I have just described.

One day in late November of 2007, I was walking west on Seneca Street in Manlius, near where I resided pre-divorce. It was my typical walk for exercise and I was headed downhill toward the village proper. My thoughts were occupied by a variety of things and I was not able to concentrate on any one item in particular. Indeed, I was distracted and that prevented me from feeling the cold, stiff breeze that was blowing across my face. Out of seemingly nowhere the Holy Spirit spoke to me, eliciting my focus. The words were stunning in their clarity and joyous in their comfort as He said: "You think you like Christmas lights? Well, wait until you see what I have waiting for you!"

There was a chuckle in His voice when He said "Well, wait until you see what I have waiting for you!" It was kind, loving, and anticipatory; not unlike a father preparing a child for a big surprise that will have to remain a surprise just a little while longer. His voice was so much like that of a father who has hidden away a special Christmas gift that would fill a child with unspeakable joy as the red, green, silver, and gold paper is torn away and the much coveted and desired item is revealed. Certainly, it is what I will see when I am finally in the presence of the Father of the Heavenly Lights. It is He, my Lord Jesus, who does not change like the shifting shadows. It is He, whose earthly birth we celebrate at Christmas time.

He spoke to my soul with such definition on that November day. I started sobbing and the tears flowed for what could have been ten minutes. These were not tears of sadness but tears of joy. Equally as much, they were tears of longing. This longing is for the lights and colors of Heaven. I can't wait to see what He has waiting for me. My finite human mind can't even fathom it!

That day in November of 2007 I learned why I am so enthralled by Christmas ornaments and lights. Those shiny and colorful creations at man's hand are a foretaste of what awaits. The Heaven created at the hand of our Holy, Triune God has lights and colors that would fizzle our currently unglorified brains. We are not equipped to handle Heaven in our physically mortal state, and yet we all have an inkling deep in our souls of what it is like. The beauty that awaits us who are in Christ will make the Adirondack Region of upstate New York or the Rocky Mountains of Colorado look like a landfill in comparison; and both of those earthly locales are stunning to behold.

Yes, I'll miss the Christmas trees and decorations that will be conspicuously absent from my bachelor pad this season. But, you never know, we might be spending Christmas with our Lord this year! If the trumpet sounds between now and then, I won't be missing a thing!