Advice for 2013

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Question: What is your advice for creatives in 2013? Share your thoughts below in 'comments'.

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Deck The Halls

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Do you Deck The Halls for Christmas at your house? Do you decorate cookies? Trim a Christmas tree?

Have you ever considered the purpose of decorating? (And not just for Christmas, but decorating in general?)

Allow me to offer that the purpose of decorating is to enhance what's already there. A tree with ornaments and lights, a cookie with frosting and sprinkles, a door with a wreath.

And even more at other times of the year and in other situations: A cake for a birthday, new paint and curtains in a room, makeup and clothing for people.

No matter how much decoration we provide, it's still what's 'underneath' that's important. A dead tree will eventually dry up, no matter how beautifully it's adorned. A poorly constructed house will quickly deteriorate, even with layers of fresh paint. Clothing and makeup? You can't cover bad character.

And then there's this incredible story about decoration:

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." (Luke 2:11-12)

A baby, wrapped in cloths, lying in a manger.

Hmmm... It appears that here the one being decorated far outshines the decoration. In fact, no matter what He would have been "wrapped" in, it could never enhance who He is. It could never improve Him. It could never create a more attractive Savior.

Question: Why do you Deck The Halls? Share your thoughts below in 'comments'.

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Mundane To Magnificent!

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Not because I am lazy or I'm experiencing writer's block, but for today's post I thought I'd re-visit a post from a few years ago that I wrote just before Christmas:

As we immerse ourselves in the Christmas season I thought I'd call our attention to a common practice at this time of year: Taking simple things and through a little ingenuity and creativity producing something that is much more than their humble beginnings.

Allow me to illustrate: Some people take the cuttings of Christmas trees and create wreaths. Others begin with a roll of yarn and make a sweater to give as a gift. Still others show their brilliance in the kitchen and using simple ingredients and creating tasty feasts and treats (my wife being one of those).

You too possess the ability and creativity to turn the mundane into the magnificent. I believe that we are all made in the image of our Creator, and if we are in His image, then we are creators also.

Don't allow the slow economy stifle your holiday spirit. You can still give, produce, fashion and form. All it takes is some time, thought and creativity.

Mundane to the magnificent. It reminds me of a story where a baby born into the humble beginnings of a cattle stall became the Savior of all and ultimately the King of kings and Lord of lords. Now that's pretty magnificent!

Question: What are some of things you've done or seen where the Mundane became the Magnificent? Share your thoughts below in 'comments'.

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Gimmie Christmas

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I remember one Christmas when I was just a young boy just after my father had died. My Uncle Al and Aunt Becky came to our house to spend Christmas with us. (Relevant fact for this story: I had not yet learned to read cursive writing.)

With wide-eyed anticipation I followed my Uncle to his car to help him bring in the Christmas gifts they had brought. He allowed me to make several trips with him, carrying as much as my small hands could hold.

With each armful, I spotted tags that I assumed said Bradley but in actuality said Becky. "My Uncle brought me a bunch of presents", my simple mind concluded.

On Christmas morning we gathered around the tree to open presents. Imagine my disappointment when so many of the gifts that I had assumed were for me were handed to my Aunt. As a six-year-old boy I was experiencing a Gimmie Christmas.

Imagine for a minute a Christmas without gifts...


How disappointed would you be? How disappointed would your family be? Your children?

We hear these words all the time in the weeks leading up to Christmas: What do you want Santa to bring you? What would you like for Christmas? Put together a Christmas wish-list... The Gimmie Christmas tradition continues.

Here's a thought: Instead of giving gifts to people, invest in them. Consider...

• Instead of another piece of jewelry, a promise for a "back-rub a week for a year" for your wife.
• Instead of socks or a tie for your brother-in-law, a copy of a book that has impacted your life.
• Instead of a new game console for the family, take them on a short historical-based getaway.
• Instead of the latest Toys-R-Us "hot toy",  teach your child to bake cookies (and give away the cookies to neighbors).
• Instead of clothes, send your teenager on a short-term missions trip in the summer.

Maybe Gimmie Christmas can become simply Christmas again.

Question: What are some of your ideas to invest in others this Christmas? Share your thoughts below in 'comments'.

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