Where Are You Christmas – 2020

Wow! Where to start… It’s been so long since I’ve written anything, and nothing I write can do justice…

The beginning of the year marked the beginning of a pandemic as a coronavirus spread from China to the entire world, causing a flu-like illness, Covid-19, in just under 73 million people with about 1.6 million deaths.

Covid-19 is caused by a coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, and the “19” marks the first year it was detected. Older adults and people with severe underlying medical conditions, like heart or lung disease or diabetes, seem to be at higher risk for developing serious complications. There is currently speculation that blood-type might play a factor. (Note: These are NOT medically statements, I am not a doctor, nor am I your doctor.)

We are less than two weeks away from Christmas Day, and we are living in a world very much different than twelve months ago. We must always remember that none of this is a surprise to Jesus Christ, he is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He is the Word that created history, past, present, and future.

The last week or so, I have found myself listening with repeatedly to a song from twenty years ago, “Where Are You Christmas?” This song was made famous in the movie, “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” sang by Cindy Lou Who.

The lyrics begin,

Where are you Christmas
Why can’t I find you
Why have you gone away
Where is the laughter
You used to bring me
Why can’t I hear music play
My world is changing
I’m rearranging
Does that mean Christmas changes too
Where are you Christmas
Do you remember
The one you used to know
I’m not the same one
See what the time’s done
Is that why you have let me go?

It’s very easy to forget where we are in light of the current situation. We’re experiencing a very serious pandemic, livelihoods are hanging in the balance, and, from our perspective, the future is really uncertain. Quite honestly, it’s very scary and confusing!

Returning to the lyrics, order adjusted for this post,

Oh, I feel you Christmas
I know I’ve found you
You never fade away
The joy of Christmas
Stays here inside us
Fills each and every heart with love
Where are you Christmas
Fill your heart with love
[moved from above for illustration]
If there is love in your heart and your mind
You will feel like Christmas all the time

Let’s repeat that last line again, “If there is love in your heart, and your mind, you will feel like Christmas all the time.“

When I tell people about growing up in a small town, Alfred, in Western New York, I give the illustration of a Thomas Kinkade Christmas painting. When I stood on our back porch, looking over the village below; trees had lost their leaves but donned crystal icicles, the moonlight glistening through the ice, and the glow of colored lights on over a hundred homes light the night.

Another song from Pentatonix from a few years ago comes to mind at this time of the year, “That’s Christmas To Me,”

I’ve got this Christmas song in my heart
I’ve got the candles glowing in the dark
And then for years to come we’ll always know one thing
That’s the love that Christmas can bring
Oh, why? ‘Cause that’s Christmas to me

This is what Christmas means to me! The love of friends, the love of Christmas lights, the love of humanity in harmony.

My prayer to you is that Christ will give you peace and understanding in this time of uncertainty. You are not in control, but he is; things may not always turn out the way we desire, but Jesus has your back. It’s hard to say this because it’s often hard to believe myself, but in those quiet times when I yield to the one who promised to always walk before and beside me, life is so tranquil.

Here are two of my favorite Christmas songs, by one of my most favorite musical groups…