Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. On approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded.

As the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.

The peasant learned what many others never understand. Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one’s condition.

I hear many people complaining about the secularization and commercialism of Christmas. I know some Christians, who thought it wrong to teach their children about Santa Claus. These people see, the wrappings of Christmas as trappings which make Christmas a simple holiday and not a Holy Day. They are like the merchants and courtiers in the earlier story who simply walked around the stone doing nothing but complaining about it.

I, for one, love the wrappings of Christmas, the decorating, the shopping, the baking, Santa Claus, the caroling, watching Charlie Browns Christmas video, etc. I love them all, because they make me pause on the pathway of life. They stop me, from running through Christmas. All the effort, all the time, all the energy I expend being involved in these Christmas traditions, enable me to discover the true reason for Christmas. Christmas is not about a baby born in a manger. It is about God’s love come to you and me in human form.

Welcome the obstacles of Christmas, so you may discover the richness of God’s presence and love in the midst of them.

Reverend Richard Hayes Weyer

May God be with you this Holiday Season
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